Grand Annual

 The Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race at the Festival having first been staged on 4th April 1834 over 4 miles of open country at Andoversford, near Cheltenham. Although that race was discontinued in the 1860s, it was revived in the early 1900s, although it was staged at various courses, notably Warwick, Melton Mowbray and Leicester. It was only in 1913 that it returned permanently to Cheltenham and has been a significant part of the Festival ever since. It is run over 1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards and 14 fences and is now classed as a Premier Handicap. In 2005 its name was updated to the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase in recognition of the part played by Johnny Henderson, father of legendary trainer Nicky Henderson, in forming the Racecourse Holdings Trust which secured the future of Cheltenham by purchasing the Prestbury Park venue for £240,000.

Early history:- The inaugural running of Grand Annual Chase took place on April 4 1834 at Andoversford, in the vicinity of Cheltenham when won by Fugleman owned by Mr R D’Oyley beating Conrad owned by Colonel Gilbert.
Grand Annual 2017 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ROCK THE WORLD Robbie Power Jessica Harrington (Ire) Mr Michael Buckley 10/1
2 GARDEFORT Daryl Jacob Venetia Williams Mr Andrew Brooks 20/1
3 THEINVAL Jeremiah McGrath Nicky Henderson Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr 9/1
4 DANDRIDGE Davy Russell Arthur Moore (Ire) Mr Ronnie Bartlett 13/2
5 CROCO BAY Kielan Woods Ben Case Lady Jane Grosvenor 40/1
6 CALIPTO James Bargary Venetia Williams Ian Fogg & Chris Giles 14/1
7 BRIGHT NEW DAWN James Davies Venetia Williams Boultbee Brooks 50/1
8 LE PREZIEN Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Mr John P McManus 7/2 fav
9 ULTRAGOLD Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard Brocade Racing et al 100/1
10 EASTLAKE Aidan Coleman Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 28/1
11 PAIROFBROWNEYES M P Fogarty Barry John Murphy Fibbage Syndicate 18/1
12 BOLD HENRY Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mr John P McManus 33/1
13 QUITE BY CHANCE Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard Hamlin, Dare, Snook, Warner 33/1
14 MICK THONIC Paddy Brennan Colin Tizzard Ann & Alan Potts 50/1
15 MY FIFTYONE Danny Mullins Jessica Harrington (Ire) Mr David Bobbett 40/1
16 SOLAR IMPULSE Brian Hughes Christopher Kellett Andy Bell, Fergus Lyons 33/1
17 UPSILON BLEU Henry Brooke Pauline Robson Mr & Mrs Raymond Anderson Green 33/1
18 WITNESS IN COURT William Kennedy Donald McCain Mr T G Leslie 40/1
19 SIZING PLATINUM Tom O'Brien Colin Tizzard Ann & Alan Potts 20/1
20 VELVET MAKER Denis O'Regan Alan Fleming Mr Barry Connell 16/1
21 THE GAME CHANGER Brian Cooper Gordon Elliott (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 9/1
22 DODGING BULLETS Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls Martin Broughton et al 8/1
23 UN BEAU ROMAN Nick Schofield Paul Henderson John Finch, The Romans 66/1
24 SOLITA Paul Townend Paul Nolan (Ire) Mr Robert Hennelly 25/1

Won by 1 3/4 lengths and a neck

 Over round 136%

The 2017 Grand Annual was held on Friday 17th March 2017