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 2023 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MASKADA Darragh O'Keeffe Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr M K Mariga 22/1
2 DINOBLUE L P Dempsey Willie Mullins (Ire) Mr John P McManus 7/2 fav
3 GLOBAL CITIZEN Luca Morgan Ben Pauling The Megsons 12/1
4 THIRD TIME LUCKI Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Mike & Eileen Newbould 8/1
5 FINAL ORDERS Keith O'Donoghue Gavin Cromwell (Ire) CMD Syndicate 13/2
6 EPSON DU HOUX Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 12/1
7 CALL ME LYREEN Sam Ewing Gordon Elliott (Ire) Lyreen Syndicate 28/1
8 ANDY DUFRESNE Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott (Ire) Mr John P McManus 9/2
9 ELIXIR DU NUTZ Brendan Powell Joe Tizzard Mr Terry Warner 16/1
10 DADS LAD Brian Hayes Willie Mullins (Ire) Whitegross Racing 16/1
11 MALYSTIC Danny McMenamin Peter Niven Clova Syndicate, P D Niven 28/1
12 COEUR SUBLIME Ben Harvey Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr C Jones 12/1
13 THYME WHITE Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls The Stewart Family 28/1
14 THE LAST DAY Adam Wedge Evan Williams Mr & Mrs William Rucker 33/1
15 BATTLEOVERDOYEN Jordan Gainford Gordon Elliott (Ire) Pioneer Racing 40/1
16 BEFORE MIDNIGHT Sam Twiston-Davies Sam Thomas Walters Plant Hire et al 25/1
17 SIZING POTTSIE Jack Tudor David Pipe Tracey, Alexander, Harman et al 22/1
18 MIDNIGHT RUN Michael O'Sullivan Joseph Patrick O'Brien (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 22/1
19 A WAVE OF THE SEA Simon Torrens Joseph Patrick O'Brien (Ire) Mr John P McManus 50/1

Won by 6 1/2 lengths and 3 lengths

Over round 135%

The 2023 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 15th March 2023