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 1939 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 THE PROFESSOR II G Owen Storie Mrs Strang 100/8
2 ARGENTAL R Everett W Payne Mrs Donn 7/4 fav
3 CHINESE ORDER E C Brown Reynard Lady Lindsay 100/8
4 LUCKPENNY Major Moseley W Payne Mrs H Hollins 20/1
5 PEACEFUL WALTER D Butchers Gosden Mr A Berry 100/7
6 PLUVIER DOVE J B Ward F Brown Mr A Barclay 100/6
7 STEEL END W Redmond P Thrale Mr Brandt 20/1
8 ATCO G Archibald O Anthony Miss Dorothy Paget 9/1
9 DARK RAVE T Rimell Forwood Mr Forwood 100/8
10 BACHELORS GOWN P Lay H Llewellyn Mr H Llewellyn 10/1
11 BRIGHT'UN Jack Fawcus P Stewart Lt-Col P Stewart 10/1
12 BOLD KNIGHT D L Jones Neville Crump Brigadier Norrie 20/1
13 SKYTOR D Morgan I Anthony Mr F Ambrose Clark 11/2
14 LAST MINUTE T Crabb Lewis Mrs I Lewis 20/1

Won by a head and 10 lengths

 Over round 136%

The 1939 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 7th March 1939 on Prestbury Park.