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 1948 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CLARE MAN C Hook Walter Nighingall Mrs G Kohn 20/1
2 CULWORTH M C Prendergast W Hall Mr G Cullington 8/1
3 KNIGHTS PASS Jack Dowdeswell Powell Colonel W Powell 8/1
4 SPORTING LINK Thompson Neville Crump 8/1
5 COERULEUM Murphy Jack Fawcus 8/1
6 COUPE T Hyde Ireland 8/1
7 HOPTOY Cusack Laurence 25/1
8 CHIKWAKA Cooke Dagg 100/7
9 ROPE TRICK Captain Smith C Berwicke 10/1
10 ROBIN REDVEST Reavey Champneys 7/1jt fav
11 YOUNG HERO Spencer George Wilson 7/1 jt fav
12 ROCK BELL A Parker Read Mr D Baker 10/1
13 UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER Vinall T F Rimell 8/1
14 PURPLE EMPEROR Maguire I Anthony 25/1
15 BENGORAM M Molony Powell 25/1
16 SCOTCH PLAID Cahalin Fulke Walwyn 25/1
17 BIRDSAND Bob Turnell Bruce Hobbs 25/1
18 DESERT LOVER T Crabb J Hamey 25/1
19 COLODEN LOUGH J Fitzgerald Fitzgerald Ire 25/1
20 AMGOT T Rimell T F Rimell 25/1

Won by 3 lengths and 1 1/2 lengths

 Over round 151%

The 1948 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 2nd March 1948