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 1842 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DRAGSMAN William Holman Humphreys Mr P Lewis 10/1
2 MERCHANT Brotherton   Mr J W Walters 5/1
3 KANGAROO Barker   Colonel Charritie 20/1
4 ZETHUS J Crickmere   Mr E L Evans 20/1
5 MISCHIEF Captain Peel   Mr T Oliver 8/1
6 TALLY-HO Powell   Mr J Hussey 3/1 fav
7 LITTLE TOMMY Tommy Oliver   Mr A Robinson 5/1
8 FORTY-TWO Worth   Mr H Green 20/1
9 FROLIC C Hardy   Earl Fitzhardinge 20/1
10 SANKEY Tempest   Mr Hodgkinson 20/1
11 FORESTER Griffiths   Mr G Gordon 20/1
12 CHEROOT W Newman   Mr J Probyn 20/1

Won by a neck

 Over round 112%
The 1842 race took place on Monday 28th March 1842 just north of Andoversford starting in a field by the side of Sandywell Park running to Ossage Farm and Dowdeswell Farm with the winning field towards Northleach. The race was sponsored by the Earl of Fitzhardinge and started by Mr Isaac Day.