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 1999 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SPACE TRUCKER J R Barry Jessica Harrington Mrs Eileen Queally 7/2 fav
2 DINES Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls Mr T Chappell, T Curry, Nicholls 6/1
3 HURRICANE LAMP Robert Thornton David Nicholson Mr & Mrs F C Webb 16/1
4 COUNTY STAR L Cummins E L James Mrs S Towler 14/1
5 AMBERLEIGH HOUSE Paul Carberry Michael Hourigan (Ire) Mrs A Dikel 14/1
6 FORESTAL Norman Williamson Howard Johnson Mr Billy Maguire 11/1
7 BALLESWHIDDEN Tony Dobbin Richard Fahey Mr Tommy Staunton 50/1
8 NOBLE LORD Brendan Powell snr Richard Phillips Mr Jeff McCarthy 8/1
9 DANTE'S CAVALIER Carl Llewellyn David Gandolfo Mr M A Dore 9/1
10 FLYING INSTRUCTOR Jimmy McCathry Paul Webber Mr John Webber 9/1
11 ROBINS PRIDE Rodney Farrant C L Popham Preeks, Staple, Littlejohn, Dascombe 66/1
12 LAKE KARIBA Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls Barber, Coburn, Curry, Millard 16/1
13 SUBLIME FELLOW Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Mr Rory McGrath 20/1
14 INDIAN JOCKEY C Maude Martin Pipe Mr Stuart Mercer 40/1
15 ANABRANCH Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson Mrs M Barker10/1

Won by 1 1/2 lengths and 1 length

 Over round 121%

The 1999 Grand Annual was held on Thursday 18th March 1999