Grand Annual Chase Tips

The historic Grand Annual Chase moved from Day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival and is now the sixth race on Day 2.

This two-mile handicap chase is the oldest race at the entire meeting, and will be run on Wednesday 15th March in 2023.

Not many people realise this, but the Grand Annual is the oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival, having first been staged way back in 1834.

The name of Johnny Henderson, one of the founders of the Racecourse Holdings Trust, was attached to the Grand Annual shortly after his death in 2005.

There were emotional scenes the following season when Greenhope, trained by Johnny's son Nicky Henderson, won the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.

Only two horses have managed to win the Grand Annual twice. Top Twenty managed to defend the title he won in 1958, while Dulwich won the Grand Annual in 1974 and '76.

Graham Bradley is the most successful jockey in the history of the Grand Annual, riding four winners during his career.

Paul Nicholls is the winning-most trainer in this handicap, with the last of his four winner coming in 2018, when Le Prezien powered to victory.

In 2019, 66/1 shot Croco Bay became the joint-oldest horse to win the race at the afe of 12.

Irish horses dominated the 2020 renewal of the Grand Annual, with Gordon Elliott's Chosen Mate coming out on top.