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 1973 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 COOLERA PRINCE N Wakeley H Handel Mrs C Handel 8/1
2 KHAN S Stanhope Fred Winter Lord Petersham 5/1 jt fav
3 RELIC'S SON P Jones O O'Neill Mr T Warner 14/1
4 COLD DAY Ron Hyett Mrs E Gaze Mrs E Gaze 5/1 jt fav
5 CELTIC GOLD David Goulding W A Stephenson Major E Cliff-McCullough 12/1
6 INCH ARRAN R Dennard Peter Cazalet HM Queen Mother 12/1
7 EAGLES NEST B Moorhead J Leigh Mr J Bowles 9/1
8 BEECHWALK Graham Thorner Tim Forster Mr J Sumner 11/1
9 TUDOR DANCE Andy Turnell Bob Turnell Mr H Joel 11/2
10 EXPLICIT Ron Barry L Shedden Mr S Wareing 8/1
11 CHARLIE LAD A Branford Fulke Walwyn Mrs M Joseph 20/1
12 THE CLERK K White David Gandolfo Mrs P Amey 8/1
13 OIDEPUS REX J Glover S Palmer Mr J Hine 33/1
14 SHOO J Nolan Fulke Walwyn Lady Aitken 20/1
15 STEADYGAZE R W-Clive Michael Scudamore Mrs D Rees-Davies 14/1

Won by 1 length and 3 lengths

 Over round 141%

The 1973 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 14th March 1973