2022 Grand Annual Tips - A pair of 16/1 shots to back at Cheltenham

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 05 Mar 2022

Jon Vine 05 Mar 2022

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Ante-post tips and odds for the 2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase
This handicap takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 16th March 2022
Sam Thomas' Before Midnight is our first selection at 16/1
We've also backed Editeur Du Gite at 16/1

Expired

Sam Twiston-Davies riding Before Midnight clear the last to win The Gerard Bertrand Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot. (Getty)

The penultimate race on Ladies’ Day at the Cheltenham Festival is the Grand Annual Handicap Chase. The Grand Annual is the oldest race of the entire meeting, having first been run back in 1834 and it’s a race that always provides a tremendous amount of entertainment.

I’ve taken a look through the latest Grand Annual betting and highlighted some key recurring ten-year trends, before picking out my best betting tips.

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Odds

Name	Odds
Buddy Rich	7/1
Brave Seasca	8/1
Ciel De Neige	8/1
Amarillo Sky	10/1
Coeur Sublime	10/1
Bar	12/1

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Trends

All of the last ten winners had won at least twice over two miles
9 of the last ten winners had run in at least one Grade One or Two race
9 of the last ten winners were seven, eight or nine-years-old
9 of the last ten winners carried 10-11 or above

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Runners

Buddy Rich2022 Grand Annual FavouriteGET 7/1 HERE

Gordon Elliott’s Buddy Rich has been backed into favouritism since the weights were announced. He’s an experienced novice who remains open to further improvement. Yet, whenever I’ve seen Buddy Rich this season, he looks slow and a change of gear will be needed to pull clear of the pack in the Grand Annual.

Brave Seasca has the ideal profile for this race. However, Venetia Williams has revealed that a virus has taken hold of her yard in recent weeks, so I’d be hesitant backing any of her runners at Cheltenham – which is a shame because she’s had a fantastic season. I’ve put up Coeur Sublime as my each way fancy for the Arkle, but if he was to run in this handicap instead, he’d have to be greatly respected. As would Ciel De Neige, despite Willie Mullins’ winless record in handicap chases at the Cheltenham Festival.

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tip 1 – Before Midnight

Before Midnight E/W2022 Grand Annual Tip 1GET 16/1 HERE

Seven of the last eight Grand Annual winners carried between 11-00 and 11-08, so looking towards the top half of the weights is clearly the way to go. Sky Pirate carried 11-06 to victory 12 months ago and he could try to defend his crown under top-weight. If Jonjo O’Neill called upon a claimer like Kevin Brogan to take some extra weight off the defending champion, I’d give Sky Pirate a big chance. However, only one horse has ever managed to win back-to-back Grand Annuals and it’s been 40 years since 11-12 was carried to victory.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT beat Sky Pirate by six lengths here at Cheltenham, when getting stacks of weight from the runner-up earlier in the season. Sam Thomas’ nine-year-old followed up at Ascot, holding off course specialist Amoola Gold and Sully D’Oc to win the Hurst Park Handicap Chase.

Thomas then rolled the dice and threw Before Midnight into the Desert Orchid Chase, where he finished last of four as Shishkin saw off Greaneteen to win nicely. Before Midnight returned to form back down in handicap company last time out, finishing a very close second behind Funambule Sivola up at Doncaster.

Funambule Sivola has boosted the form of that race by winning the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase since and Before Midnight would enter the Grand Annual running off the same mark of 148. Sam Twiston-Davies - who rode Before Midnight to victory at Cheltenham earlier in the season and won this handicap on Solar Impulse in 2016 - will probably return to the saddle and I’d give Before Midnight a very good chance of winning on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tip 2 – Editeur Du Gite

Editeur Du Gite E/W2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tip 2GET 16/1 HERE

Another runner who’s enjoyed front-running success around Cheltenham this season is EDITEUR DU GITE. Gary Moore’s eight-year-old won well off 125 at Newbury last March before following up at Aintree, where he made all and held off Sully D’Oc to win the Red Rum Handicap Chase.

After unseating his rider when booked for second on his reappearance at Ascot, Editeur Du Gite jumped brilliantly around Cheltenham at the November Meeting and survived a late challenge from Stolen Silver to return to winning ways. Moore’s charge then made light of a seven-pound rise to secure his second course-and-distance triumph in the Simon Claisse Handicap Chase, where he comfortably beat Cheddleton and Frero Banbou by over four lengths.

The handicapper has slapped another six pounds onto Editeur Du Gite’s rating, meaning he’s now risen 28 pounds up the handicap in the last 13 months. Niall Houlihan took five pounds off his mount’s back during both of those victories at Cheltenham. If Houlihan was called upon again, then Editeur Du Gite would be carrying just 11-4.

There is a chance Editeur Du Gite could take up his entry in the Champion Chase. Gary Moore was forced to withdraw from the Game Spirit after his eight-year-old returned a bad blood result, after which he said the Champion Chase was a possibility. Yet, there’s absolutely no chance Editeur Du Gite could match the likes of Shishkin, Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi in that Grade One and he’d have every chance of winning the Grand Annual off his current mark. I'll be backing him NRNB.

Verdict

2022 Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Before Midnight and Editeur Du Gite are our two against the field in this year's Grand Annual.

Before Midnight

Each-Way

@16/1 - 5 Units

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Editeur Du Gite

Each-Way

@16/1 - 5 Units

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