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 1865 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 EMBLEM George Stevens 12 stone 13lbs Lord Coventry 4/6 fav
2 MISTAKE Jervis 11 stone Mr F Jacobs 3/1
3 JESUISTA W Reeves 10 stone 9lbs Mr H Wyatt 20/1
4 BRIDEGROOM Harland 11 stone 7lbs Mr Bygood 20/1
5 ACE OF HEARTS Owen 10 stone 12lbs Mr Riddell 20/1
6 PORTLAND C Boyce 10 stone 12lbs Mr Mathews 20/1
7 MEANWOOD Page 10 stone 12lbs Mr Hidson 20/1
8 THE ROGUE J Knott 10 stone 11lbs Mr Somers 8/1
9 ROCK THE GARDENER G Waddington 10 stone 10lbs Mr Welfit 20/1
10 YALLER GAL Gray 10 stone 9lbs Mr Dalley 5/1
11 LITTLE DICK Ellison 10 stone 4lbs Mr Notley 20/1
12 WEE NELL Allan Sadler 10 stone 4lbs Mr F Jacob 10/1
13 GAMECOCK W Taylor 10 stone Mr Billham 8/1
14 BELGIUM Beaven 10 stone Leon Van Den Hecke 20/1

Won by 3 lengths and the same.

 Over round 172%

The 1865 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 18th April 1865 on the same Southam course as last year.