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 2011 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 OISEAU DE NUIT Mr S Clements Colin Tizzard Mr Terry Warner 40/1
2 ASKTHEMASTER Phillip Enright Robert Tyner Miss C Wall 50/1
3 LEO'S LUCKY STAR Danny Cook David Pipe Mrs S J Brookhouse 20/1
4 DE BOITRON Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy Mrs J Morgan & Lindsey 8/1
5 QUITO DU TRESOR Campbell Gillies Lucinda Russell Tay Valley Chasers 40/1
6 ANQUETTA David Bass Nicky Henderson The Ten From Seven 9/1
7 IMSINGINGTHEBLUES Tom Scudamore David Pipe Mrs Jo Tracey 4/1 fav
8 PEPE SIMO Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Highclere Thoroughbreds 11/1
9 PIGEON ISLAND Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr H R Mould 14/1
10 KEKI BUKU Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mrs Diana Whateley 20/1
11 MISTER STICKLER Wayne Hutchinson Alan King Mr Trevor Hemmings 25/1
12 RIGUEZ DANCER Richie McGrath Ferdy Murphy DPRP Second Dance 50/1
13 OH CRICK Robert Thornton Alan King Mr David Sewell 8/1
14 SHOREACRES Tony McCoy Brendan Powell Mr David Nash 6/1
15 FILM FESTIVAL Fearghal Davis Brian Ellison Koa's Racing Club 33/1
16 SANTA'S SON Brian Hughes Howard Johnson Douglas Pryde, Jill Beaumont 100/1
17 SPORTS LINE Timmy Murphy Donald McCain Mr A Killoran 28/1
18 TANKS FOR THAT Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Mrs Christopher Hanbury 11/1
19 GRAND LAHOU Mr Tom David Tim Vaughan Oceans Racing 66/1
20 NAMECHEKI Liam Treadwell Nick Gifford The Stewart Family 25/1
21 FIENDISH FLAME Jason Maguire Donald McCain Mrs Hall 28/1
22 CHANINBAR Sean Quinlan Milton Harris Middleham Park Racing 100/1
23 BEGGARS CAP Sam Twiston-Davies Ferdy Murphy Mr Trevor Hemmings 28/1

Won by 3 1/4 lengths and 2 1/4 lengths

 Over round 133%

The 2011 Grand Annual was held on Friday 18th March 2011