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 1929 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 WINDSWEPT M Rayson Bazley Lord Grimthorpe 8/1
2 LOW TIDE W Speck Coulthwaite Mr R Bownass 4/1 jt fav
3 KISSER F Rees F Hartigan Mr V T Thompson 10/1
4 LADY ARDOON W Stott Rennison Mr H J Brueton 100/6
5 ANNANDALE F Gurney Pease Mrs Kenneth Mackey 10/1
6 KILLADOON J Weymes Wight Lt-Colonel R W Tweedie 100/6
7 LAURENTUM T Cullinan Aubrey Hastings Mr F Ambrose-Clark 7/1
8 DUN DIVER R Fawcett Milvain Lt-Colonel R Milvain 100/6
9 MANITO J Richardson Davey John Johnstone 10/1
10 MOUNTAIN SLIP T Leader T Leader Mr F Parker 4/1
11 IRISH DOLLY J Hamey Paravicini Colonel C de Paravicini 20/1
12 LABRADOR D Williams Aubrey Hastings Marshall Field 20/1
13 BRIGHTER DAYS J Bisgood J Anthony Mr J H Whitney 20/1
14 FOG HORN J Moloney G Sanday Mr G P Sanday 20/1
15 AHMED BEN Keith Piggott Bickley Mr E C Nolan 13/2
16 NAVY BLUE P Powell James Mr H Brandt 20/1

Won by 1 1/2 lengths and 4 lengths

 Over round 147%

The 1929 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 12th March 1929 on Prestbury Park.