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 1906 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BUSHEY PARK J Walsh jnr Stubber Mr R H Stubber jnr 9/4 fav
2 CREOLIN T Savage   Colonel M Lindsay 5/2
3 QUARTO G Green   Mr T L Walker 10/1
4 HILLS LOT H Jackson   Mr W H Wilkinson 8/1
5 KEPLER J Conway   Lord Coventry 5/1
6 CANONESSE II E Matthews   Captain Fane Gladwin 6/1
7 GAY DRUMMOND Cuthbertson   Mr F Goodliffe 10/1

Won by 3/4 length and 3 lengths

 Over round 117%

The 1906 Grand Annual was held on Thursday 29th March 1906 on Prestbury Park, for the fifth year in a row, but it was to mark a break in the race being held at Prestbury Park until 2 years after the inaugural running of the Festival. This year the Great Western Railway Company opened their small station on the north-esat part of Prestbury Park to over a unique service to racegoers.