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 1959 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 TOP TWENTY Fred Winter Magnier (Ire) Mrs T O'Brien 9/2 jt fav
2 LANCELOT G Milburn Bewicke Mr G Moore 10/1
3 LIMEVILLE A Freeman Peter Cazalet Lady Cottenham 100/8
4 THE FOSSE J Leigh Lord Leigh Lord Leigh 100/9
5 THE BIG HINDU Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper (Ire) Mr T Streeter 9/2 jt fav
6 CHATELET Jumbo Wilkinson Bobby Renton Mrs L Brotherton 5/1
7 REDHALL Tim Brookshaw T F Rimell Mr R Hardy 7/1
8 BALLYATOM R McCreery Beeby Sir D Evans-Bevan 10/1
9 SEGNOR IV Oughton Fulke Walwyn Mr C Loyd 100/9
10 PRINCE NEARCO D Thompson Rohan Mr D Thompson 100/8
11 LIMB OF THE LAW B Lawrence T H Yates Mr E Bee 100/8
12 MODE V Speck Neville Crump Captain D Keith 33/1

Won by 2 lengths and 1 length

 Over round 128%

The 1959 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 3rd March 1959