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 1875 Premier Handicap 4 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 MASTER MOWBRAY George Holman 12 stone 7lbs Mr J Goodliff 5/2 fav
2 CONGRESS E P Wilson 12 stone 6lbs Mr G Comm 100/30
3 MARIA J Goodwin 10 stone 13lbs Mr Haines 10/1
4 PETER SIMPLE W Daniels 11 stone 7lbs Mr H Ellison 4/1
5 DAINTY Hathaway 12 stone 2lbs Mr S Davis 10/1
6 MISTLETOE Alan Holman 11 stone 1lb Mr E Studd 100/6
7 MORNING STAR Thomas 11 stone Mr Matthews 100/7
8 HARBINGER James Jewitt 10 stone 6lbs Lord Aylesford 100/15
9 FURLEY Marsh 11 stone 13lbs Mr H Baltazzi 20/1

Won by 1 1/2 lengths and the same

 Over round 123%

The 1875 Grand Annual was held in the vicinity of Prestbury Park over 3 1/2 miles on Friday 2nd April 1875