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 1850 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 FARNHAM Abbott 10 stone 10lbs Mr Mangan 4/1
2 PROCEED Jem Mason 10 stone 10lbs Mr Mason 3/1 jt fav
3 VERAX J Holman 10 stone Mr Keate 10/1
4 VENGEANCE William Archer 10 stone Mr Vever 3/1 jt fav
5 ABD-EL-KADER D Wynne 10 stone 6lbs Mr Osborne 4/1
6 VICTIM Taylor 10 stone 12lbs Mr Story 10/1
7 SPARTA R James 8 stone 7lbs Mr John Day 10/1
8 THE TREASURER Tom Oliver 9st 12lbs Captain Green 7/1
9 WOLVERHAMPTON Fowler 9st 10lbs Mr Williamson 7/1

Won by a head and 12 lengths

 Over round 141%

The 1850 Grand Annual over 4 miles was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th March 1850 at Prestbury Park, but frost and snow forced the races to be postponed until much later in the week. Many of the principal riders were booked to ride at Frith Manor on the Thursday, and a hurricane struck Prestbury Park on Friday evening, unroofing the Grandstand, so it was not until Saturday 30th March 1850 that the race was staged.