Grand Annual
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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 1969 | Premier Handicap | 2 miles | ||
| Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | ALL GLORY | A Robinson | J Edwards | Mr A Morley 10/1 |
| 2 | STONEHAVEN | Stan Mellor | Roddy Armytage | Lt-Col G Wilkinson 10/1 |
| 3 | CAPE | F Shortt | Auld (Ire) | Mrs W Macauley 6/1 |
| 4 | CHAOU II | David Mould | Peter Cazalet | HM Queen Elizabeth II 4/1 jt fav |
| 5 | BALLYSUN | G W Robinson | Fulke Walwyn | Mr Jack Joseph 4/1 jt fav |
| 6 | GUINEA HUNTER | R Edwards | Whiston | Mr R J Pulham 100/7 |
| 7 | WOOD SPIRIT | P Jones | Michael Scudamore | Mr H Bryn Thomas 10/1 |
| 8 | GET STEPPING | Jeff King | Bob Turnell | Mr A B Mitchell 100/9 |
| 9 | BLACK'S BRIDGE | Richard Pitman | Bewicke | Commander Kenneth Kemble 100/8 |
| 10 | MACROMPIAN | Johnny Bourke | Milner | Mr A Pownall 25/1 |
Won by 25 lengths and 15 lengths |
Over round 109% | |||
The 1969 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 19th March 1969 |
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