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 1837 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 VIVIAN Captain William Becher 12 stone Captain T Lambe
2 SPLENDOUR Mr Solloway 12 stone Mr Lambden
3 DECEIVER Mr Powell 12 stone Captain Richardson
4 DAN O'CONNELL Mr Dennis 12 stone Mr E Whitehead
5 DISOWNED Mr McDonough 12 stone Mr Williamson
6 CINDERELLA Mr Martin 12 stone Mr W E Lawrence
7 HARLEQUIN Mr Moggridge 12 stone Mr J B Were
8 SPORTSMAN Mr C Walker 12 stone Mr W Bryan
9 MONARCH Marquis of Waterford 12 stone Mr D Newman
10 STANDARD Mr W Smith 12 stone Mr V Dolphin
11 CANNON BALL Mr W Peel 12 stone Mr J J Bristow
12 OBERON Mr Isaac Day 12 stone Lord Segrave
13 WORKMAN Mr S Lovesy 12 stone Mr R P H Jodrell
14 NORTH STAR Mr Job Mason 12 stone Mr J Yearsley

Won by 2 lengths

 Over round N/A

The course for the 1837 Grand Annual moved to the vicinity of Winchcombe, six miles north-east of Cheltenham, starting and finishing on Sudeley Castle Green and was staged on Tuesday 11th April 1837. There were 14 runners who each paid 20 sovereigns, with a further 25 sovereigns added to the prize fund, each horse carrying 12 stone.