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 1940 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BACHELOR'S GOWN P Lay Legge Mr H Llewellyn 10/1
2 INTERLAKEN T F Carey Beeby Mr G Beeby 11/8 fav
3 SOLARIUM T Rimell T F Rimell Sir Edward Hanmer 10/1
4 LONDON TOWN D Morgan I Anthony Mr Clark 20/1
5 KNIGHT OF THE BORDER F Williams O Anthony Miss Dorothy Paget 100/7
6 KINGSLAND A Jarvis Gosden Mr Berry 11/2
7 YAT-SEN R Morgan Reg Hobbs Mr Balies 20/1
8 CELTIC ROVER Jack Fawcus Coulthwaite Mr N Taylor 7/2
9 FELTONETTE G Owen Cockton Mr Parke 100/8
10 TULLY LAD Jack Dowdeswell Belville Mrs Belville 20/1
11 NOVGOROD J Bissill J Bissill Mrs Phillips 100/8

Won by 4 lengths and 3 lengths

 Over round 135%

The 1940 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 13th March 1940 on Prestbury Park.