Grand Annual Chase tips 2023

FREE professional horse racing tips for the Cheltenham Festival

Want tips for all 28 Cheltenham races via email each morning?

Join now to make sure you get them!

Get our FREE guide to the Cheltenham Festival

Home » Cheltenham » Grand Annual Chase

Cheltenham

Day One Tips

Cheltenham

Day Two Tips

Cheltenham

Day Three Tips

Cheltenham

Day Four Tips

Cheltenham

Bookie Offers

View Our tips for the Grand Annual Chase

Grand Annual Chase TipsWhen is the Grand Annual Chase 2023?

Cheltenham Wednesday 15th March 4.50pm

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+)

Distance: 2 miles

Weights:  Handicap

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase is a grade three race and is open to horses aged five years old and older. It is run on the new course at Cheltenham over a distance of about two miles and 110 yards and during this running there are 14 fences to be jumped.

This is the oldest race of the Cheltenham Festival and it is also the oldest chase in the National Hunt calendar, first run in 1834.  As always, previous form over these fences is a big plus.

 

Grand Annual Chase Records

Fastest Win: Samakaan 2000 ridden by N Williamson trained by Venetia Williams finished in 232.4 s – 3 minutes 52.4 seconds

Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):

Top Twenty – 1958, 1959
Dulwich – 1974, 1976

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):

Graham Bradley – Pearlyman (1986), My Young Man (1992), Sound Reveille (1995), Uncle Ernie (1997)

Leading trainer since 1946 (4 wins):

Paul Nicholls – St Pirran (2004), Andreas (2007), Solar Impulse (2016), Le Prezien (2018)

Grand Annual Chase Trends and Statistics

12 Year Trends and Statistics 

  • Age10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7-9
  • Sex – All of the last 12 winners were geldings.
  • Trainer – With 2 wins Paul Nichols is the only person to saddle more than 1 winner in the last 12 years.
  • Country – 6 of the last 12 winners were bred in Ireland, 3 in France, 2 in Great Britain and 1 in Germany.
  • Colour – 9 of the last 12 winners were bay.
  • Weight Carried10 of the last of the last 12 winners carried 11st 5lbs or less.
  • Starting Price (SP)Another race where we might see double figure odds as 9 of the last 12 winners have been 10/1 or higher.
  • Starting Price Rank – 2 of the last 12 winners started as favourite and 4 were in the first 2 in the betting.
  • Headgear – 8 of the last 12 winners were without headgear
  • Days Since Last Run – 7 of the last 12 winners had run between 26 and 60 days ago, the rest were between 76 and 240.
  • Last Run Form –2 of the last 12 winners had won last time out. 8 finished in the first 5.
  • Official Rating – 11 of the last 12 winners had an OR below 147.

Who are the Grand Annual Chase Leading Contenders?

The oldest race of the Festival and often a minefield for punters; but runner-up in the race twelve months ago ENTOUCAS could go one better for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

The Network gelding was consistent over the larger obstacles last campaign without managing to get his head in front, but he did manage on multiple occasions to make the frame including in valuable contests at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown prior to being denied by a short-head in this race last year by Sky Pirate.

He had travelled really well into that contest before a mistake at the second last put him on the back foot. Despite the mistake he rallied well and kept on up the hill but was unable to peg back the winner late. A repeat of that run would put him firmly in the mix once more despite lack of a recent run and he may well have been laid out for the race by his handler.

He has shown he can run well fresh in the past and while he’s found wins hard to come by he ought to be involved if taking his chance in the contest.

ANTE-POST SELECTION: ENTOUCAS

What’s Our Grand Annual Chase Tips?

We will update this box with our tips for the Grand Annual Chase when they are finalised

Here's what Keith sent our members:

US AND THEM 16:15 Cheltenham 14/1 each way – Third in this last year off 1lb higher, also finished a close second in the 2019 Arkle. That festival form is worth its weight in gold.

How did he do?

US AND THEM – was prominent, every chance after 3 out, mistake and weakened last to finish 11th,

For the 2020 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Free Racing Tips Tipster Keith advised:

Trainer Paul Nicholls has a great record in this race, winning it four times since 2004. This year he saddles BRELAN D’AS. 

Owned by JP McManus, BRELAN  D’AS has a love/hate relationship with Cheltenham.  

There have been great days, such as when he finished third in this race last year, and his fine second in the BetVictor Gold Cup in  November.  

There have also been the disasters, unseating his regular rider Barry Geraghtry in the Randox Health Handicap Chase, and when he was fancied for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in  December

 On raceday Keith advised CAPELAND who made a catalog of mistakes in the Grand Annual and finished tailed off.

Grand Annual Chase Results

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)
Distance: 2m (3499 yards) Prize (winner): £70338 Dir: Left Handed
Runners: 16    Going: Heavy    Class: Class 1 Grade 3    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 4 mins 12.98s   Avg OR: 145     Median OR: 143     Fences: 13

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds
20 1st Global Citizen (IRE) 10 10-6 136 Pauling, Ben Woods, K K 28/1
led until 4 out, pressed leader, screwed at 9th, led again 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 34 Owner: The Megsons
2 2nd 3 Andy Dufresne (IRE) 8 11-11 155 Elliott, Gordon Walsh, M P 100/30 (Fav)
wore hood to post, chased leaders, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd run-in, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner BF IP MIN 2.16 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
14 3rd 3 Frero Banbou (FR) 7 10-11 141 Williams, Miss Venetia Deutsch, Charlie 6/1
held up off the pace in last pair, headway on inside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden in 4th and beaten when blundered badly last, switched left and stayed on again run-in, went 3rd towards finish BF IP MIN 4.3 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr P Davies
3 4th 0.5 Editeur Du Gite (FR) 8 11-9 153 Moore, G L Moore, Joshua 15/2
chased winner until 4th, chased leaders, led 4 out, headed 2 out, chased winner until run-in, weakened into 4th towards finish BF IP MIN 3.1 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: The Preston Family, Friends & T Jacobs
10 5th 8 Amarillo Sky (IRE) 6 10-13 143 Tizzard, C L Powell, Brendan 5/1
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, pushed along and weakened approaching 2 out BF IP MIN 4.1 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: J P Romans & Taylor, Odwyer
19 6th 3.25 Hasankey (IRE) 6 10-0 137 Morgan, Miss Laura Dobb, Lewis (7) 33/1
held up in mid-division, pushed along and headway chasing leaders before 3 out, squeezed out and lost place turning in, switched left and stayed on again run-in BF IP MIN 50 BF IP MAX 950 Owner: The Hanky Panky Partnership
7 7th 1 Embittered (IRE) 8 11-1 145 OBrien, Joseph Patrick Cooper, Bryan J 12/1
towards rear out wide, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, 5th and held when mistake next, weakened soon after BF IP MIN 13.5 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
12 8th 12 Il Ridoto (FR) 5 10-13 143 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 18/1
held up well off the pace in last pair, slightly hampered 8th, headway out wide chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened home turn BF IP MIN 5.1 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Giles, Hogarth, Mason & McGoff
4 9th 0.75 A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 6 11-1 150 OBrien, Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald, Mr S (5) 25/1
never fluent, hit 5th, always towards rear BF IP MIN 25 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr John P McManus
11 10th 2 Dancing On My Own (IRE) 8 10-13 143 Bromhead, Henry De OKeeffe, Darragh 33/1
chased leaders, bad mistake and almost unseated rider 4 out not recover BF IP MIN 26 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Sean & Bernardine Mulryan
1 11th 10 Sky Pirate 9 11-12 156 ONeill, Jonjo Scholfield, Nick 14/1
held up towards rear of mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened soon after BF IP MIN 15 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd
5 PU Exit Poll (IRE) 8 11-5 149 Harrington, Mrs John OKeeffe, Sean F 66/1
chased leaders, blundered rider lost iron briefly and and lost place 8th, towards rear and no chance after, hit 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out BF IP MIN 90 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: OMEGA Racing
9 PU Elixir De Nutz (FR) 8 10-13 143 Tizzard, C L ONeill, Jonjo (Jr) 14/1
raced on inner, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until next, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailing off when pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 12 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr Terry Warner
15 PU Poseidon (IRE) 8 10-11 141 Byrnes, C Mullins, D E 66/1
off the pace and towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 75 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Martin White
16 PU Gumball (FR) 8 10-10 140 OBrien, Fergal Brennan, P J 14/1
off the pace towards rear, closer in mid-division when bad mistake 8th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 20 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mr Terry Warner
18 PU For Pleasure (IRE) 7 10-8 138 Hales, A M Bannister, Harry A A 7/1
chased leaders on inside, lost place after 4th, towards rear and never on terms after BF IP MIN 9.6 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Premier Plastering (uk) Limited

Non Runners
Before Midnight – 2022-03-16 14:33:01
Thyme White (FR) – 2022-03-16 14:56:01
Buddy Rich (IRE) – 2022-03-16 15:45:02
Capuccimix (FR) – 2022-03-16 16:25:02

Date Going Runners Winner Stallion Age Jockey (Clm) Trainer Odds Weight OR Days
Good To Soft 19 8 14/1 11-6 152 30d
Good To Soft 18 7 7/2 11-4 147 50d
Good To Soft 19 12 66/1 10-12 139 227d
Soft 22 7 15/2 11-8 150 90d
Good 24 9 10/1 11-5 147 146d
Good 24 6 28/1 11-0 140 92d
Soft 20 8 16/1 11-2 143 104d
Good 23 8 16/1 11-5 147 54d
Soft 23 9 3/1 10-11 140 40d
Good 21 8 20/1 10-2 138 30d
Good 23 9 40/1 10-13 145 28d
Soft 19 7 16/1 10-1 129 34d
Good To Soft 18 6 7/1 10-0 130 26d
Good To Soft 17 10 15/2 10-6 134 33d
Good To Soft 23 7 12/1 10-11 143 41d
Good 23 8 20/1 10-11 132 13d
Good 24 9 7/1 10-0 130 104d
Good 21 9 4/1 10-1 130 40d
Good 21 5 8/1 10-0 134 16d
Good 18 9 6/1 10-0 131 26d
Good To Firm 16 7 9/2 10-11 132 12d
Good To Soft 15 8 7/2 10-1 123 11d
Good 17 6 7/2 11-6 139 28d
Good 16 12 20/1 11-4 145 19d

 

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Distance: 2m½f (3582 yards) Prize (winner): £61897 Direction: Left Handed
Runners: 18    Going: Good To Soft    Class: Class 1 Grade 3    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 4 mins 7.90s   Avg OR: 148     Median OR: 147.5 

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds
10 1st Chosen Mate (IRE) 7 147 Elliott, Gordon Russell, D N 7/2 (Fav)
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led going well after 2 out, mistake last, stayed on, ridden out BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 5.6
8 2nd 1.75 Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 6 149 Elliott, Gordon OKeeffe, Sean F (5) 13/2
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, not trouble winner BF IP MIN 5 BF IP MAX 1000
9 3rd 3.5 Us And Them (IRE) 7 148 OBrien, Joseph Patrick Slevin, J J 10/1
in touch in mid-division, mistake 1st, closed 5th, lost place 4 out, rallied 2 out, went 3rd from last, stayed on BF IP MIN 4.9 BF IP MAX 1000
7 4th NK Greaneteen (FR) 6 150 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 5/1
raced keenly, in touch in mid-division, effort 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat BF IP MIN 5 BF IP MAX 1000
19 5th 2.75 Theinval (FR) 10 141 Henderson, N J McGrath, Jeremiah 50/1
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway last, stayed on flat, never nearer BF IP MIN 40 BF IP MAX 1000
11 6th 0.5 Ballywood (FR) 6 146 King, A Bellamy, Tom 28/1
held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven from 2 out, kept on flat BF IP MIN 13 BF IP MAX 1000
16 7th 1.25 Lisp (IRE) 6 144 King, A Cannon, Tom J 7/1
held up in mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, kept on flat but no impression BF IP MIN 7.2 BF IP MAX 1000
20 8th 2.75 The Bay Birch (IRE) 9 140 Sheppard, M Sheppard, Stan 50/1
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, weakened before last BF IP MIN 65 BF IP MAX 1000
15 9th NSE Croco Bay (IRE) 13 144 Case, B I Woods, K K 25/1
prominent, pecked 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression after BF IP MIN 44 BF IP MAX 1000
17 10th NK Jan Maat (GER) 7 142 Bromhead, Henry De Blackmore, Rachael 12/1
chased leaders, led when stumbled 2 out, soon headed, weakened final 150 yards BF IP MIN 4 BF IP MAX 1000
14 11th 0.5 Two Taffs (IRE) 10 144 Skelton, Daniel Skelton, Harry 14/1
chased leaders, driven before 2 out, weakened before last BF IP MIN 9 BF IP MAX 1000
4 12th 0.75 Paloma Blue (IRE) 8 152 Bromhead, Henry De Coleman, A 17/2
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakening when mistake last BF IP MIN 6 BF IP MAX 1000
2 13th 0.5 Marracudja (FR) 9 154 Skelton, Daniel Andrews, Bridget 50/1
prominent, led 10th, hit 3 out, headed next, slow and beaten last, weakened flat BF IP MIN 15.5 BF IP MAX 1000
3 14th 17 Capeland (FR) 8 153 Nicholls, P F Frost, Bryony 25/1
mistakes, always behind BF IP MIN 32 BF IP MAX 1000
13 15th 5 Winter Escape (IRE) 9 144 Haslam, B M R Walsh, M P 33/1
always in rear BF IP MIN 60 BF IP MAX 1000
1 PU Great Field (FR) 9 155 ONeill, Jonjo McGarvey, J S 33/1
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, hampered after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 20 BF IP MAX 1000
5 PU Mcgroarty (IRE) 9 152 Newland, Dr R D P Twiston-Davies, Sam 50/1
prominent, lost place 4th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 4 out BF IP MIN 100 BF IP MAX 1000
6 PU Gino Trail (IRE) 13 151 OBrien, Fergal Moore, Jamie 20/1
led, not fluent 6th (water) or 7th, headed 10th, weakened after 3 out, eased and pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 21 BF IP MAX 1000

Non Runners  Adrrastos (IRE), Caid Du Lin (FR)

Grand Annual Chase Previous Winners

Date Going Runners Winner Stallion Age Jockey (Clm) Trainer Odds Weight OR Days
Heavy 16 10 28/1 10-6 136 39d
Good To Soft 19 8 14/1 11-6 152 30d
Good To Soft 18 7 7/2 11-4 147 50d
Good To Soft 19 12 66/1 10-12 139 227d
Soft 22 7 15/2 11-8 150 90d
Good 24 9 10/1 11-5 147 146d
Good 24 6 28/1 11-0 140 92d
Soft 20 8 16/1 11-2 143 104d
Good 23 8 16/1 11-5 147 54d
Soft 23 9 3/1 10-11 140 40d
Good 21 8 20/1 10-2 138 30d
Good 23 9 40/1 10-13 145 28d
Soft 19 7 16/1 10-1 129 34d
Good To Soft 18 6 7/1 10-0 130 26d
Good To Soft 17 10 15/2 10-6 134 33d
Good To Soft 23 7 12/1 10-11 143 41d
Good 23 8 20/1 10-11 132 13d
Good 24 9 7/1 10-0 130 104d
Good 21 9 4/1 10-1 130 40d
Good 21 5 8/1 10-0 134 16d
Good 18 9 6/1 10-0 131 26d
Good To Firm 16 7 9/2 10-11 132 12d
Good To Soft 15 8 7/2 10-1 123 11d
Good 17 6 7/2 11-6 139 28d
Good 16 12 20/1 11-4 145 19d

Who is FRT’s Cheltenham Day 4 Tipster?

Meet Gary, better known as The Bookies Enemy.
 

He’s not only one of our most experienced tipsters (having been tipping professionally for six years), but he also shares his extensive knowledge with his members by providing a full analysis of every one of his selections.

You won't be betting blind.
 
Instead, put your money behind well-researched, fully explained tips from the professional tipster who’s delivered year on year for his followers:

  • Over 937 points profit
  • A lifetime 19.33% strike rate
  • 14.71% ROI

Cheltenham Festival Wednesday

Race Schedule

START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE
13:30 The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race 2m abt 5f Hurdle
14:10 The Festival Novices’ Chase (RSA Chase) (Grade 1) 3m abt ½ f Chase
14:50 The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Grade 3) 2m abt 5f Hurdle
15:30 The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
(feature race)
Abt 2m Chase
16:10 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f Chase
16:50 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3) 2m abt ½f Chase
17.30 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) 2m abt ½f Bumper

The Countdown to Cheltenham 2024

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Get your FREE copy of the Horse's Mouth Magazine

Cheltenham Special

Our free guide to Cheltenham Festival with all our Antepost tips 

VIP members need not apply, you'll be sent yours automatically on the 4th of March

Please check your inbox and don't forget to check the spam folder