Grand Annual
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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 1861 | Premier Handicap | 4 miles | ||
| Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Age/weight | Owner |
| 1 | FRESHMAN | W Edwards | 10 stone 7lbs | Mr Symond 4/1 |
| 2 | JERUSALEM | George Stevens | 11 stone 6lbs | Captain Talbot 3/1 jt fav |
| 3 | DOUBTFUL | Thomas | 10 stone 3lbs | Mr Thomas 3/1 jt fav |
| 4 | MEDORA | F Rowlands | 10 stone 3lbs | Mr Riley 10/1 |
| 5 | ACE OF HEARTS | Wheale | 9 stone 5lbs | Mr James 10/1 |
| 6 | THE MONMOUTHSHIRE | W Beville | 9 stone 4lbs | Mr W S Cartwright 5/1 |
| 7 | DECEPTION | Allan Sadler | 9 stone | Mr Wood 20/1 |
| 8 | CLOUGHBALLY | Tarrant | 8 stone 10lbs | Mr Notley 20/1 |
Won by 3 lengths and a neck |
Over round 114% | |||
The 1861 Grand Annual was held on Saturday 23rd March 1861 on the property of the Earl of Ellenborough at Southam. |
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