2024 Grand Annual Tips - Trends and tips for this historic handicap chase
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the 2024 Grand Annual at Cheltenham including important trends from the past decade and expert betting tips. Market leader My Mate Mozzie may be skipping this race, putting Saint Roi as the favourite despite a poor seasonal form. Other notable contenders include Harper's Brook, Madara, Libberty Hunter, and last year's winner, Maskada. The article concludes with the author's personal favourite, Libberty Hunter, and other potential high-value picks.
- Free guide to the 2024 Grand Annual Handicap Chase
- This handicap takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 13th March
- Libberty Hunter and Maskada feature in our verdict
The penultimate race on day two at Cheltenham is the Grand Annual. This handicap chase is the oldest race of the entire meeting, having first been run way back in 1834 and this year's renewal is shaping up to be a cracker.
Here's our free guide to the 2024 Grand Annual, which includes some key ten-year trends and our best betting tips in the verdict.
2024 Grand Annual Key Ten-Year Trends
- 10 of the last 10 winners had won at least twice over two miles
- 9 of the last 10 winners had run in at least one Grade One or Grade Two race
- 8 of the last 10 winners were rated between 138 and 148
- 7 of the last 10 winners returned an SP of 10/1 or bigger
2024 Grand Annual Tips
My Mate Mozzie tops the market, but recent quotes from Gavin Cromwell suggest he'll be taking his chance in the Arkle. Saint Roi will then be favourite, basically on reputation alone, as he hasn't a hope of running up to a mark of 152 on this season's form. Then there's Harper's Brook, who's been smashed up in the betting in recent weeks, but I wouldn't want to back this awkward eight-year-old with stolen money at that price.
I backed both Madara and Libberty Hunter when they won at Cheltenham earlier in the season. Sophie Leech's star then landed a good pot at the Dublin Racing Festival and enters this handicap off a ten-pound higher mark. Libberty Hunter received a mere seven-pound hike for beating Arkle-bound Matata, who went on to finish a very close second in a Grade Two.
Last year's winner, Maskada could have a chance off an eight-pound higher mark, having only been beaten eight lengths by El Fabiolo earlier in the season. If My Mate Mozzie does run on day one, then Gavin Cromwell's hopes will lie at the feet of Path D'oroux, who's gone close the last twice, but just doesn't jump quick enough for a two-mile handicap chase.
In Excelsis Deo ran well in behind Madara earlier in the season and would likely have beaten Harpers Brook at Sandown, had he not fallen at the last. Unexpected Party is at his best over two miles and Dan Skelton's nine-year-old has dropped down to an appealing mark.
Solness seems a little overlooked in the market on day two of the Cheltenham Festival. I could still see Frero Banbou running well, despite two poor performances of late. Hardy Du Seuil cannot be ruled out lightly, while the likes of Triple Trade, Straw Fan Jack and Gunsight Ridge hold some appeal further down the market.
Verdict
I'm keen to go in again on Libberty Hunter, who saw off a very decent yardstick when winning on his Cheltenham debut on New Year's Day. Evan Williams has had his eight-year-old laid out for the Festival since that victory and he'll love any extra juice in the ground.
Maskada's win in the race last year has been boosted plenty by runner-up Dinoblue, and she still offers a decent amount of value at her current price. At much longer odds, I've got my eye on both Frero Banbou and Straw Fan Jack, but once the field is confirmed they could drift out to even bigger prices, so I'll wait until the declaration stage before confirming my second bet.
Maskada's win in the race last year has been boosted plenty by runner-up Dinoblue, and she still offers a decent amount of value at her current price. At much longer odds, I've got my eye on both Frero Banbou and Straw Fan Jack, but once the field is confirmed they could drift out to even bigger prices, so I'll wait until the declaration stage before confirming my second bet.
Libberty Hunter
2024 Grand Annual Tip 1
@12/1 - 10 Units
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