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 1986 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PEARLYMAN Graham Bradley J Edwards Mrs P Shaw 14/1
2 CAPTAIN DAWN E Murphy Josh Gifford Mr Paddy Hopkins 2/1
3 KARENOMORE Jonjo O'Neill M H Easterby Lt-Col R Warden 8/1
4 SHREWD OPERATOR T Costello Terry Casey Mr John Upson 20/1
5 KEVINSFORT Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald Mrs R Haggie 10/1
6 ANOTHER BROWNIE J P Byrne M J McGrath (Ire) Mr S Lucey 10/1
7 THE COUNTY STONE P Scudamore John Thorne Mrs A Taylor 5/1 fav
8 PETER ANTHONY J Bryan R Hickman Mr R Hickman 7/1
9 ADMIRALS CUP Clive Cox Fred Winter R E A Bott Ltd 8/1
10 TARN Robert Earnshaw Tom Tate Mr Tom Tate 11/1
11 JO COLOMBO P Warner Mrs W Sykes Mr B O'Brien 12/1
12 NUDGE NUDGE G Charles-Jones Stan Mellor Mr F Taylor 14/1
13 STRAY SHOT Richard Rowe Josh Gifford Mr Geoff Hubbard 14/1
14 THE BAR RULES Pat Leech M Cunningham (Ire) Mr O Cassidy 20/1
15 ATATABO Rod Millman J Roberts Mrs S Pattemore 33/1
16 JUST FOR THE CRACK Bredan Powell Kim Bailey Mr G Wills 33/1
17 GEMELEK Carl Llewellyn Jim Old Mr P Carter 33/1
18 POUNENTES N Doughty W M McGhie Mr W McGhie 50/1
19 ORP BALTIC K Doolan Eric Alston Mr J Moores 100/1

Won by 3 lengths and 3 lengths

 Over round 134%

The 1986 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 11th March 1986