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2025 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tips, Odds and News
The penultimate race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Grand Annual. This two-mile handicap is the most historic race at the entire Cheltenham Festival, having first been run back in 1834, and is named in honour of the great Johnny Henderson, former owner and father of top trainer, Nicky Henderson.
The Grand Annual was moved from day four to day two in 2021, to allow the new Mares' Chase to be run on Gold Cup day.
The Grand Annual was moved from day four to day two in 2021, to allow the new Mares' Chase to be run on Gold Cup day.
Grand Annual Handicap Key Facts
Date | Wednesday 11th March, 2026 |
Time | 4:40pm |
Course | Cheltenham Festival |
Status | Grade Three Handicap |
Distance | 2m |
Prize Pool | £110k |
Age | 5YO+ |
Grand Annual Handicap Odds
No odds are currently available for the Grand Annual.
Grand Annual Handicap Tips
Our guide to the Grand Annual handicap will be published when the entries and weights have been announced.
Grand Annual Handicap Result
Position | Name | SP |
---|---|---|
1st | Jazzy Matty | 15/2 |
2nd | Unexpected Party | 11/2f |
3rd | Midnight It Is | 25/1 |
4th | My Mate Mozzie | 13/2 |
5th | Jasko Des Dames | 22/1 |
Grand Annual Handicap Chase Day Card
Cheltenham Day 2 Card
Time | Wednesday Races | Status | Distance |
13:20 | Turners Novices' Hurdle | Grade One | 2m 5f |
14:00 | Brown Advisory Novices' Chase | Grade One | 3m |
14:40 | Coral Cup | Grade Three Handicap | 2m 5f |
15:20 | Cross Country Chase | Class Two Handicap | 3m 6f |
16:00 | Champion Chase | Grade One | 2m |
16:40 | Grand Annual Chase | Grade Three Handicap | 2m |
17:20 | Champion Bumper | Grade One | 2m |
Grand Annual History
The Grand Annual Handicap Chase is the oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival. It's also the oldest race currently still being run in National Hunt racing.
The Grand Annual was first held in 1834. It was first run at Cheltenham in 1913 and soon became an essential part of the Cheltenham Festival.
The name of Johnny Henderson was attached to the Grand Annual after his death in 2005. Johnny Henderson was a famous banker and racehorse owner. His son, Nicky Henderson saddled the winner of the Grand Annual the following season, with Greenhope handing the Henderson family an emotional victory.
Only two horses have managed to win the Grand Annual more than once. The first to achieve the double was Top Twenty, who won back-to-back renewals in 1958 and '59.
Dulwich also won the race for two Festivals in a row. His victories in 1974 and '76 were interrupted, though, as the 1975 renewal of the Grand Annual was abandoned due to a waterlogged track.
Graham Bradley guided Pearlyman to victory in the Grand Annual in 1986. Pearlyman would go on to score two victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Bradley went on to ride the winner on three other occasions and remains the most successful rider in Grand Annual history.
AP McCoy managed three winners of the Grand Annual. McCoy rode Edredon Bleu to victory for Henrietta Knight in 1998. Edredon Blue went on to win the Champion Chase in 2000, and the King George three years later.
Paul Nicholls is the winning-most trainer, with the last of his four victories coming with Le Prezien in 2018.
In 2019, Croco Bay became just the second 12-year-old to win the Grand Annual when he scored under Kielan Woods. Gordon Elliott won the Grand Annual for the first time in 2020, as Davy Russell guided the well-backed Chosen Mate to victory.
Despite drifting out to 14/1, Sky Pirate claimed victory in the 2021 Grand Annual.
Despite drifting out to 14/1, Sky Pirate claimed victory in the 2021 Grand Annual.
Grand Annual Winners
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2025 | Jazzy Matty |
2024 | Unexpected Party |
2023 | Maskada |
2022 | Global Citizen |
2021 | Sky Pirate |
2020 | Chosen Mate |
2019 | Croco Bay |
2018 | Le Prezien |
2017 | Rock The World |
2016 | Solar Impulse |
2015 | Next Sensation |
2014 | Savello |
2013 | Alderwood |
2012 | Bellvano |
2011 | Oiseau de Nuit |
2010 | Pigeon Island |
2009 | Oh Crick |
2008 | Tiger Cry |
2007 | Andreas |
2006 | Greenhope |
2005 | Fota Island |
2004 | St Pirran |
2003 | Palarshan |
2002 | Fadoudal du Cochet |