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 1853 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 OSCAR Sam Darling 10 stone 12lbs Mr Mason 7/4 fav
2 SIR PETER LAURIE William Holman 11 stone 1lbs Mr W Barnett 7/1
3 PETER SIMPLE Tom Oliver 11 stone 10lbs Captain Little 5/2
4 VAIN HOPE Stevens 11 stone Mr Higginson 10/1
5 SHINRONE Boyce 10 stone 3lb Mr Wycherley 10/1
6 MAURICE DALEY Treen 9 stone 10lbs Mr Cartwright 4/1
7 LEPORELLO William Archer 9 stone 6lbs Mr Barry 20/1
8 DEAREST MAE Debeau 9 stone 4lbs Mr Mead 20/1
9 BETSY PRIG H Lamplugh 9 stone 2lbs Captain D Lane 20/1
10 HONEST TOM Green 8 stone 12lbs Mr Dogherty 20/1

The winner won by half a neck and half a length, but there was an objection on the grounds of improper description, but some time after the meeting the Stewards overruled the objection to enable Oscar to keep the race.

 Over round 134%

The final time the Grand Annual was held at Prestbury Park for some considerable time was on Wednesday 6th April 1853, as the land was sold for £19,600 and the purchaser was against horse racing and would not allow future meetings to be held on his land.