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 1984 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MOSSY MOORE Jonjo O'Neill B Chinn Mr B Chinn 11/2
2 OYSTER POND Richard Dunwoody McCourt Mr K Martin-Clarke 12/1
3 KATHIES LAD G Newman Alan Jarvis Mr J Clayton 12/1
4 FOR GOOD Chris Hawkins Neville Crump Lord Cadogan 12/1
5 HAMERS FLAME J Brassill M Neville Mr E Farrell 17/2
6 TORDEALBHACH Fran Berry O'Connor Mr H Harpur-Crewe 8/1
7 FALKLAND PALACE Paul Barton David Gandolfo Mr A Else 9/1
8 THE BROCKSHEE Tom Taaffe Arthur Moore (Ire) Mr T Munray 9/1
9 SPINNING SAINT A Webber Kim Bailey Miss S Wills 100/30 fav
10 WESTERN ROSE Sam Morshead Mrs Mercy Rimell Mr J Curtis 10/1
11 RESTLESS SHOT Graham McCourt J Webber Mr R Richmond-Watson 16/1
12 BARFLY T J Ryan J Murphy Mrs T Cleary 20/1
13 WALNUT WONDER Peter Scudamore R Hickman Mr R Hickman 33/1

Won by 2 1/2 lengths and a neck

 Over round 128%

The 1984 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 13th March 1984