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 1858 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 COMET George Stevens 11 stone 8lbs Mr Goldby 1/2 fav
2 BANJO George Holman 11 stone 6lbs Mr Wood 6/4
3 LADY WYNNE White 10 stone 7lbs Mr Aspirate 10/1

Won by a distance

 Over round 116%

The 1858 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 13th April 1858 on the same course near Andoversford as used the previous year which was designed by local celebrity and jockey Tom Oliver. The meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday 14th April until the Committee realised that date clashed with the sale of Mr Morrell's Berkshire Hounds and thought it best to move it a day earlier.