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 1967 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SAN ANGELO Johnny Buckingham Edward Courage Mr Edward Courage 10/1
2 RIVERSDALE Eddie Harty Champneys Mr R Bazell 6/1
3 FLASH BULB Johnny Haine Bob Turnell Mrs J Rogerson 100/8
4 GREEKTOWN Paddy Broderick W Stephenson Mr L Ensten 100/30 fav
5 MOONDUSTER Terry Biddlecombe T Rimell Mr T West 9/1
6 ELAN David Nicholson John Sutcliffe jnr Mr R Tucker 100/8
7 TED BROON A MacTaggart A MacTaggart Mr A MacTaggart 10/1
8 SHANLIS T Jones Kilpatrick Mrs V Bourne 10/1
9 DEAR JOHN K White J Yeomans Mr A Reid 10/1
10 WELL PACKED Tommy Stack Bobby Renton Mrs L Brotherton 100/8
11 FINE ARTS Stan Mellor Bacon Mr G Pykett 20/1
12 MAID OF PERTH Richard Pitman P Ransom Mr N Ryan 20/1
13 MR FIZZ Josh Gifford J Wright Mrs A Boyce 33/1

Won by 4 lengths and 3/4 length

 Over round 121%

The 1967 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 15th March 1967