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 1866 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 COLUMBIA W Reeves 10 stone 5lbs Mr Herbert 10/1
2 L'AFRICAINE Captain W Riddle 12 stone 7lbs Mr Powell 100/8
3 CORTOLVIN Page 11 stone 10lbs Lord Poulett 3/1 fav
4 EMBLEMATIC S Stevens 12 stone Earl of Coventry 5/1
5 MARBLE HILL W Edwards 11 stone 8lbs Lord Uxbridge 100/8
6 HORNET Griffiths 11 stone 2lbs Mr Halford 20/1
7 THOMASTOWN Murphy 11 stone 2lbs Mr T W Nagaten 6/1
8 OLD OSWESTRY B Land 11 stone 2lbs Mr Halford 8/1
9 IRONSIDES Colonel Know 10 stone 11lbs Captain G Johnston 20/1
10 HONEYMOON J Knott 10 stone 7lbs Mr Payne 20/1
11 WOODBURY HILL J Rickaby 10 stone 7lbs Mr Summers 20/1
12 KNAVE OF TRUMPS Wheeler 10 stone 6lbs Mr Goldby 7/1
13 DAISY J Pope 10 stone 4lbs Mr Powell 20/1
14 PHILOSOPHER H Ellison 10 stone 2lbs Mr W Murray 10/1
15 SPRITE G Waddington 10 stone Mr George 20/1
16 GEORGIANA F Lotan 10 stone Mr E Studd 20/1
17 IBEX G Boyce 11 stone 2lbs Mr Brayley 20/1

Won by 3/4 length and 2 lengths.

 Over round 150%

The 1866 Grand Annual had £300 prize money and was held on Saturday 14th April 1866 on Gaskin's Farm, Southam course. However, a grandstand collapsed on the first day when up to 600 people were inside. The Grandstand was erected by Mr Essie of Gloucester, but at the end of the day contractors were on site with timber and workmen to rebuild the stand in readiness for the next day's racing.