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 1953 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ROSE & CROWN J A Bullock Fulke Walwyn Miss Dorothy Paget 33/1
2 RAND MINES G Straker Ivan Straker Mr Ivan Straker 10/1
3 MARCIANUS Dick Francis Beeby Lord Bicester 10/1
4 ROYAL OAK IV Grantham de Moraville Mr J Phillips 7/2 fav
5 BIG BILL McCreery Payne-Gallway Lady McCreery 4/1
6 WENCESLAUS Bob Turnell I Anthony Mr E Williams 9/2
7 WORKBOY R Morrow Kilpatrick Mr P Curnick 13/2
8 FILON D'OR Curran J Goldsmith Mr H Cozens 10/1
9 HIGHWAYMAN Cusack J F Norris Mrs C Wilson 100/6
10 VIGOR Fred Winter de Moraville Mr A Owen 100/6
11 TUDOR LINE J Power Bobby Renton Mrs E Truelove 20/1
12 CHAIN LINK R J Hamey J Hamey Mr W White 20/1
13 LOYAL TOAST Mytton Mytton Major B H Mytton 33/1

Won by 2 lengths and 4 lengths

 Over round 130%

The 1953 Grand Annual was held on Thursday 5th March 1953