Worcester Grand Annual Steeplechase

	FORERUNNER TO THE GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE
Although the Worcester Grand Annual Steeplechase was not formally so-named until 1847, a number of Chase races did take place in the vicinity of Worcester leading up to this date. These included the Royal Birthday Handicap, the Worcestershire Hunt Stakes, the Witley Stakes, the Tally-Ho Stakes, the Worcestershire Handicap Steeplechase and the Farmers' Stakes. This year was particularly interesting because there were two Worcestershire Handicap Steeplechases, one at Crowle in February and one at Worcester in November. Furthermore, these were probably the most important Grand National trails of all time, with no less than 4 Grand National winners in the field, as indicated below.
Tuesday 3rd February 1846 Worcestershire Handicap Steeplechase (100 sovereigns) over 4 miles at Crowle
HORSE		OWNER	JOCKEY	ODDS
BRUNETTE		Mr Preston	Allan McDonough	5/1
ALICE GRAY		Mr John Elmore	Rackley	16/1
CULVERTHORPE		Mr Tilbury	Jem Mason	9/1
PETER SIMPLE		Mr Ekin	Frisby	9/1
LYCURGUS		Mr C Beville	Beville	5/1
PIONEER		Mr Adam	Taylor	5/1
VANGUARD		Mr T Oliver	T Oliver	4/1 fav
SAMSON		Mr Welsh	Beaseley	20/1
BOXKEEPER		Captain Barnett	Parker	20/1
REGALIA		Mr De Rode	Byrne	10/1
EXQUISITE		Captain Allen	Powell	7/1
WILTON		Mr W K Rogers	W Holman	20/1
JERRY		Mr J S Moseley	Bradley	16/1
*The winner won by 3/4 length, with a further 3/4 length back in third.*				Over round 145%
Friday 6th November 1846 Worcestershire Handicap Steeplechase (100 sovereigns) over 4 miles at Worcester
HORSE		OWNER	JOCKEY	ODDS
THE SWITCHER		Lord Strathmore	Strathmore	5/1
MARENGO		Captain Barnett	Mr Parker	20/1
PIONEER		Mr O Higgins	Captain Peel	3/1 fav
BRUNETTE		Mr Preston	Allan McDonough	10/1
SALUTE		Hon D Ward	Captain Powell	25/1
CULVERTHORPE		Mr Tilbury	Mr P R Rolt	6/1
JERRY		Mr Moseley	Mr Bradley	20/1
TRAMP		Mr C Smith	Mr Rowland	8/1
SPARTA		Mr Jones	T Oliver	20/1
MAHOMET		Mr Clifton	Clifton	25/1
LITTLE JOHNNY		Mr Harrison	Harrison	10/1
GILRAG		Mr Stapleford	Searle	25/1
The winner won by a length, with 3 lengths back to the third.				Over round 111%
The Worcester Grand Annual Steeplechase is intrinsically linked with the Aintree Grand National, its inaugural running taking place in 1836, the same year the first 'unofficial' Grand National took place. For details of the 1846 Aintree Grand National click here.
GRAND NATIONAL FORM Vanguard WON the 1843 Grand National at 12/1 Pioneer WON the 1846 Grand National at 20/1 Peter Simple WON the 1849 Grand National at 20/1 Peter Simple WON the 1853 Grand National at 9/1 Peter Simple was SECOND in the 1845 Grand National at 10/1 behind Cure-All Culverthorpe was SECOND in the 1846 Grand National at 12/1 behind Pioneer Peter Simple was THIRD in the 1842 Grand National at 8/1 behind Gaylad Peter Simple was THIRD in the 1841 Grand National at 6/1 behind Charity The Switcher was THIRD in the 1846 Grand National at 7/1 behind Pioneer Jerry was THIRD in the 1847 Grand National at 100/8 behind Matthew Pioneer was FOURTH in the 1847 Grand National behind Matthew Peter Simple was unplaced when 3/1 favourite in the 1843 Grand National behind Vanguard Marengo was unplaced when 3/1 joint favourite in the 1844 Grand National behind Discount Peter Simple was unplaced at 50/1 in the 1844 Grand National behind Discount Vanguard was unplaced when 4/1 joint favourite in the 1845 Grand National behind Cure-All Peter Simple was unplaced at 100/6 in the 1846 Grand National behind Pioneer Culverthorpe was unplaced at 10/1 in the 1847 Grand National behind Matthew Marengo was unplaced at 20/1 in the 1847 Grand National behind Matthew Jerry was unplaced at 50/1 in the 1848 Grand National behind Chandler The Switcher was unplaced at 50/1 in the 1848 Grand National behind Chandler Pioneer was unplaced at 25/1 in the 1848 Grand National behind Chandler Jerry was unplaced at 50/1 in the 1849 Grand National behind Peter Simple Peter Simple was unplaced when 5/1 favourite in the 1850 Grand National behind Abd el Kader Peter Simple was unplaced at 50/1 in the 1851 Grand National behind Abd el Kader Peter Simple was unplaced at 12/1 in the 1854 Grand National behind Bourton
*Another famous race from days gone by, the Land O' Plums Steeplechase, formerly run at Pershore Racecourse, has now been reinstated at Worcester racecourse.*

To order your copy, priced at £13.99 + £2 postage/packaging, email info@worcester-racecourse.co.uk