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 2005 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FOTA ISLAND Paul Carberry Mouse Morris (Ire) Mr John P McManus 7/1
2 BAMBI DE L'ORME Graham Lee Ian Williams Mr & Mrs John Poynton 16/1
3 CARACCIOLA Marcus Foley Nicky Henderson Mr P J D Pottinger 16/1
4 TYSOU Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Mr W J Brown 10/1
5 IMPEK Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight Mr Jim Lewis 10/1
6 GREENHOPE Andrew Tinkler Nicky Henderson Lynn & Giles Wilson, M Landau 20/1
7 MASTER REX Noel Fehily Ben De Haan Ms A E Embiricos 40/1
8 BLEU SUPERBE Sam Thomas Venetia Williams P A Deal, Tyndall, Hirschfield 66/1
9 ARMATURK Christian Williams Paul Nicholls Mr B C Marshall 40/1
10 PALARSHAN Richard Johnson Henry Daly Mrs A L Wood 15/2
11 LATALOMNE Paul Robson Noel Wilson Alderclad, Everitt et al 66/1
12 BATSWING Jamie Moore Gary Moore Mr Ashley Carr 66/1
13 FIGARO DU ROCHER Tom Malone Martin Pipe Pipi Monkees 50/1
14 ATUM RE James Davies Paul Webber Mr Paul Green 50/1
15 L'ANGE AU CIEL Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Mr B C Marshall 9/2 fav
16 ALMAYDAN Robert Thornton Richard Lee Mr George Brookes 5/1
17 BONUS BRIDGE Mark Bradburne Henry Daly Lady Knutsford 25/1
18 JERICHO III Larry McGrath Richard Guest Mr Paul Beck 66/1
19 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mr John P McManus 50/1
20 PALUA Jimmy McCarthy Emma Lavelle Mr R J Lavelle 50/1
21 DAVOSKI Dr P Pritchard Dr P Pritchard Lady Maria Coventry 100/1
22 TANGO ROYAL Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe Mr B A Kilpatrick 28/1
23 STORMY LORD Brian Harding John Wade Mr John Wade 66/1
24 GROUND BALL David Casey Charlie Swan Mr John P McManus 10//1
25 GREAT TRAVEL Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls Mrs J Stewart 12/1

Won by 5 lengths and 1 length

 Over round 126%

The 2005 Grand Annual was held on Friday 18th March 2005