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 2020 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CHOSEN MATE Davy Russell Gordon Elliott (Ire) Northern Four Partners 7/2 fav
2 ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU Sean O'Keeffe Gordon Elliott (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 13/2
3 US AND THEM J J Slevin Joseph Patrick O'Brien Burnham P & D Ltd 10/1
4 GREAMTEEN Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls Mr Chris Giles 5/1
5 THEINVAL Jeremiah McGrath Nicky Henderson Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr 50/1
6 BALLYWOOD Tom Bellamy Alan King Highclere Thoroughbreds 28/1
7 LISP Tom Cannon Alan King Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes 7/1
8 THE BAY BIRCH Stan Sheppard Matt Shephard Mr Tony Scriven 50/1
9 CROCO BAY Kielan Woods Ben Case Lady Jane Grosvenor 25/1
10 JAN MOAT Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 12/1
11 TWO TAFFS Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Walters Plant Hire et al 14/1
12 PALOMO BLUE Aidan Coleman Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr C Jones 17/2
13 MARRACUDJA Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Foxtrot Racing 50/1
14 CAPELAND Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls Mrs Kathy Stuart 25/1
15 WINTER ESCAPE Mark Walsh Ben Haslam Mr John P McManus 33/1
16 GINO TRAIL Jamie Moore Fergal O'Brien Mrs Jan Smith 20/1
17 GREAT FIELD Jody McGarvey Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 33/1
18 McGROATY Sam Twiston-Davies Dr Richard Newland Chris Steadman, Mark Albon 50/1

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

 Over round 129%

The 2020 Grand Annual was held on Friday 13th March 2020