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 1961 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BARBERYN Michael Scudamore W Stephenson Mr J E Bigg 3/1
2 FORTRON Jumbo Wilkinson Pickering Mr J D Pickering 8/1
3 ICANOPIT Stan Mellor T F Rimell Mr W R Porter 8/1
4 DAILY TELEGRAPH Pat Taaffe T Dreaper (Ire) Mr J Thursby 9/4 fav
5 RICHARD OF BORDEAUX Fred Winter Fulke Walwyn Mr J Schilizzi 13/2
6 BUFFER David Nicholson Frenchie Nicholson Lord Sefton 8/1
7 QUICK APPROACH Beasley T F Rimell Miss M L-Taylor 100/9
8 DOUBLE CHOICE W Rees Peter Cazalet Mrs A Hodgson 100/8
9 COLEEN STAR Tim Brookshaw Frank Gilman Mr Frank Gilman 100/7
10 DRAGMAR GITTELL H East Bobby Renton Mrs L Brotherton 50/1

Won by 1/2 length and 1 1/2 lengths

 Over round 128%

The 1961 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 8th March 1961