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 2018 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 LE PREZIEN Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls Mr John P McManus 15/2
2 GINO TRAIL Jamie Moore Kerry Lee Mrs Jan Smith 25/1
3 TOP GAMBLE Davy Russell Kerry Lee Walters Plant Hire Ltd 8/1
4 THEINVAL Jeremiah McGrath Nicky Henderson Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr 16/1
5 THREE STARS J J Slevin Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr Robert Finnegan 12/1
6 DOITFORTHEVILLAGE Paddy Brennan Paul Henderson The Rockbourne Partnership 20/1
7 DOLOS Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls Mrs Johnny de la Hey 16/1
8 BORN SURVIVOR Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Mrs G Widdowson, Mr Kelvin-Hughes 25/1
9 ROCK THE WORLD Robbie Power Jessica Harrington Mr John P McManus 20/1
10 BRIGHT NEW DAWN Alain Cowley Venetia Williams Boultbee Brookes 66/1
11 FOXTAIL HILL Jamie Bargary Nigel Twiston-Davies Options O Syndicate 20/1
12 SIZING PLATINUM Tom O'Brien Colin Tizzard Ann & Alan Potts 50/1
13 GARDE LA VICTOIRE Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mrs Diana Whateley 25/1
14 VANITEUX Tom Scudamore David Pipe Alexander, Drew, Tracey 16/1
15 EASTLAKE Jonjo O'Neill jnr Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 33/1
16 BOURVREUIL Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Mr John P McManus 10/1
17 DRESDEN Jamie Davies Henry Oliver Mr Dan Lloyd 16/1
18 SOME PLAN Noel Fehily Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr R S Brookhouse 20/1
19 NORTH HILL HARVEY Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Mrs G Widdowson, Mrs Kelvin-Hughes 7/1 fav
20 DON'T TOUCH IT Mark Walsh Jessica Harrington Mr John P McManus 11/1
21 TOWNSHEND Paul Townend Willie Mullins (Ire) Mrs Susannah Ricci 16/1
22 VALDEZ Wayne Hutchinson Alan King Riverdee Stable 25/1

Won by 4 1/2 lengths and a neck

 Over round 136%

The 2018 Grand Annual was held on Friday 16th March 2018