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 2012 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BELLVANO Paul Carberry Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 20/1
2 TANKS FOR THAT Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Mrs Christopher Hanbury 9/1
3 KUMBESHWAR Robert Thornton Alan King McNeill Family, Nigel Bunter 16/1
4 ANQUETTA Andrew Tinkler Nicky Henderson The Ten From Seven 33/1
5 KING EDMUND Tom Cannon Chris Gordon Anthony Ward-Thomas 66/1
6 DE BOITRON Lucy Alexander Ferdy Murphy Mrs J Morgan & Lindsay 14/1
7 ASTROCAD Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr H R Mould 11/2
8 CORNAS Mr William Biddick Nick Williams Gascoigne Brookes Partners 33/1
9 NORTHER BAY Paul Townend Eoin Griffin White Hares Syndicate 100/1
10 TARA ROYAL Henry Brooke Donald McCain Mr T G Leslie 25/1
11 SLIEVEARDAGH Andrew Lynch E J O'Grady (Ire) Mr Simon H Davis 9/1
12 KID CASSIDY Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 4/1 fav
13 IDARAH Ms Nina Carberry Paul Cashman (Ire) Mr Liam Mulryan 25/1
14 OISEAU DE NUIT Mr S Clements Colin Tizzard Mr Terry Warner 14/1
15 TOUBAB Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Hills of Ledbury 12/1
16 ULTIMATE James Best Brian Ellison Mr Dan Gilbert 20/1
17 FRENCH OPERA Jeremiah McGrath Nicky Henderson Mrs Judy Wilson, Martin Landau 16/1
18 FREE WORLD David Casey Arthur Moore (Ire) Mr Clive D Smith 25/1
19 ERADICATE David Bass Nicky Henderson Mr A D Spence 14/1
20 RENARD Aidan Coleman Venetia Williams ROA Arkle Partnership 20/1
21 LUCKY WILLIAM Brian Cooper Thomas Cooper Garden Kingdom Syndicate 14/1

Won by 2 1/4 lengths and 7 lengths

 Over round 136%

The 2012 Grand Annual was held on Friday 16th March 2012