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 1898 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 XEBEE T J Longworth 10 stone 7lbs Mr R C B Cave 7/1
2 PERHAPS H Hewitt 11 stone 2lbs Mr W Pugh 5/2 fav
3 MORGLETTE Miller 10 stone 9lbs Mr G Miller 7/1
4 REFUGEE Pearce 11 stone 3lbs Captain Chaloner 10/1
5 ST ELMO H Smith 10 stone 11lbs Mr A James 4/1
6 TAVORA Sidney 10 stone 9lbs Mr H Sidney 20/1
7 BOA Munby 11 stone 3lbs Mr E W Munby 10/1
8 LOPPY Davis 10 stone 11lbs Sir W Ingram 7/1

Won by a neck and 3/4 length

 Over round 108%

The 1898 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 13th April 1898 on Prestbury Park, reviving the meeting there after what newspapers called a 7-year gap, after the course owner, Baring Bingham, decided the time was right to allow racing at the course once again.