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 1942 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RED ROWER D Morgan I Anthony Lady Sybil 10/1
2 MEDOC II H Nicholson Reg Hobbs Lord Sefton 7/1
3 BROKEN PROMISE M Prendergast Norris Mr J Rank 4/1 fav
4 ASTERABAD T F Carey Beeby 7/1
5 GOLDEN KNIGHT E Bailey Bailey 8/1
6 POET PRINCE D Sherbrooke I Anthony 15/2
7 SOLARIUM T Rimell T F Rimell 20/1
8 ALIBI R Burford Fulke Walwyn 20/1
9 MYOWNE E C Brown C Bell 100/6
10 KNIGHT O' LONDON S Magee T F Rimell 25/1
11 ARGENTAL J Cox W Payne 25/1
12 SILVER BUGLE T Isaac Norris 25/1
13 RELAIS DE POSTE G Wilson T F Rimell 25/1
14 JACK PUGH M Feakes Reg Hobbs 7/1
15 REST ASSURED Ron Smyth Tabor 10/1
16 MASK & WIG J Moloney J Anthony 25/1
17 ROI D'EGYPTE J Bissill H Whiteman 25/1
18 MASQUERY T Crabb J Hamey 25/1
19 SAVON G Archibald Reg Hobbs 20/1
20 GROSVENOR BRIDGE P Lay F Furlong 100/6

Won by a neck and a length

 Over round 152%

The 1942 Grand Annual was held on Saturday 14th March 1942 on Prestbury Park.