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 1938 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 NOVGOROD J Bissill Bissill Mrs A Phillips 100/8
2 PEACEFUL WALTER D Butchers Gosden Mr A E Berry 8/1
3 SOLARIUM T Rimell T F Rimell Sir Edward Hanmer 9/2
4 ALEXANDRINA D Morgan I Anthony Mr E E Large 10/1
5 ROMAN CHIEF H Nicholson C Langlands Mr W P Nicholson 100/30
6 ARGENTAL G Wilson W Payne Mr Arthur Donn 15/8 fav
7 DELAPAIX J Moloney Beeby Mr J B Snow 20/1
8 CAKEWALKER T McNeill Reg Hobbs Mrs F Ambrose Clark 100/8
9 TRESCA D Jones Powell Mrs A A Sidney-Villar 100/7
10 VEINARDE Ron Smyth H Smyth Mr Arthur Sainsbury 20/1
11 DANCING STAR T Issac Hosking Mr E L Hosking 20/1
12 JOLLY YEOMAN J Dennistown Lefebve Mr F C Kiddle 20/1
13 WARDLEY D Doyle J Harper Mr W H Thorpe 20/1

Won by 4 lengths and 4 lengths

 Over round 146%

The 1938 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 8th March 1938 on Prestbury Park.