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 1933 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CANTILLIUS J Moloney Beeby Mr V H Smith 7/1
2 DRINTOWN W Stott Thrale Mr Swain 10/1
3 TEME SALMON Fulke Walwyn Rimell Mr T Lawson-Walker 100/8
4 SANDYKNOWE Lord Haddington Wight Lord Haddington 100/6
5 OLD BACHELOR W Speck J Anthony Mr J H Whitney 4/1 fav
6 ROAD AGENT J H Bostwick I Anthony Mr G H Bostwick 8/1
7 DISCUS J Goswell Wootton Mr S Wootton 11/2
8 THRUMSTER D Morgan Poole Mrs V G Harmsworth 100/9
9 OTTAWA J Hamey Gilbert Mr N Alvarez 25/1
10 MAGIC MOON E Williams Barrett Lord Inchcape 25/1
11 ROMAN GENERAL E Foster Barthropp Lt-Commander E W B Leake 25/1
12 VILLAGE BOY Jack Fawcus Dutton Mr R Mealings 100/9
13 WIND SWEPT R Lyall Bazley Lord Grimthorpe 25/1
14 GUNGA DIN F Gurney Forwood Captain G R D Shaw 25/1
15 MONTCLAIR W Kidney Beeby Mr V H Smith 100/8
16 KING OSCAR Captain Brownhill Briscoe Miss Dorothy Paget 100/7

Won by 1 1/2 lengths and 1 length

 Over round 134%

The 1933 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 7th March 1933 on Prestbury Park.