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 1947 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ROPE TRICK D Doyle C Bewicke Captain A M Keith 100/7
2 KNIGHTS PASS Jack Dowdeswell Powell Mrs L Gardner 5/1
3 CULWORTH M C Prendergast W Hall Mr G A Collington 10/1
4 COOL CUSTOMER T Hyde Jack Fawcus Major R S-Stuart 11/10 fav
5 PONGO P Murray H Smyth Mr C James 100/8
6 KIPPER KITE H Nicholson Reg Hobbs Mrs G M Colmore 100/8
7 MONKS MISTAKE Ron Smyth Beeby Lord Bicester 100/7
8 PALADIN P Conlon T H Yates Mr R A Holbech 20/1
9 BELTED MONARCH J Moloney George Wilson Mr H W Smith 20/1
10 RED DEVIL R Black Fulke Walwyn Mrs C Clarke 8/1
11 C-IN-C Bob Turnell Bruce Hobbs Mrs J Rogerson 100/7
12 ROCK BELL A Parker Read Mr D Baker 20/1

Won by 3 lengths and 3 lengths

 Over round 136%

The 1947 Grand Annual was held on Saturday 12th April 1947 on Prestbury Park having twice been postponed in early and mid-March due to frost.