Grand Annual Chase tips 2023

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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.

 

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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.

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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

NoPlaceDist BtHorseAgeWeightORTrainerJockey (Claim)Odds
201stGlobal Citizen (IRE)1010-6136Pauling, BenWoods, K K28/1
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
22nd3Andy Dufresne (IRE)811-11155Elliott, GordonWalsh, M P100/30 (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
143rd3Frero Banbou (FR)710-11141Williams, Miss VenetiaDeutsch, Charlie6/1
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
34th0.5Editeur Du Gite (FR)811-9153Moore, G LMoore, Joshua15/2
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
105th8Amarillo Sky (IRE)610-13143Tizzard, C LPowell, Brendan5/1
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
196th3.25Hasankey (IRE)610-0137Morgan, Miss LauraDobb, 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
77th1Embittered (IRE)811-1145OBrien, Joseph PatrickCooper, Bryan J12/1
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
128th12Il Ridoto (FR)510-13143Nicholls, P FCobden, Harry18/1
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
49th0.75A Wave Of The Sea (IRE)611-1150OBrien, Joseph PatrickFitzgerald, 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
1110th2Dancing On My Own (IRE)810-13143Bromhead, Henry DeOKeeffe, Darragh33/1
chased leaders, bad mistake and almost unseated rider 4 out not recover BF IP MIN 26 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Sean & Bernardine Mulryan
111th10Sky Pirate911-12156ONeill, JonjoScholfield, Nick14/1
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
5PUExit Poll (IRE)811-5149Harrington, Mrs JohnOKeeffe, Sean F66/1
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
9PUElixir De Nutz (FR)810-13143Tizzard, C LONeill, 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
15PUPoseidon (IRE)810-11141Byrnes, CMullins, D E66/1
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
16PUGumball (FR)810-10140OBrien, FergalBrennan, P J14/1
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
18PUFor Pleasure (IRE)710-8138Hales, A MBannister, Harry A A7/1
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

DateGoingRunnersWinnerStallionAgeJockey (Clm)TrainerOddsWeightORDays
Good To Soft19814/111-615230d
Good To Soft1877/211-414750d
Good To Soft191266/110-12139227d
Soft22715/211-815090d
Good24910/111-5147146d
Good24628/111-014092d
Soft20816/111-2143104d
Good23816/111-514754d
Soft2393/110-1114040d
Good21820/110-213830d
Good23940/110-1314528d
Soft19716/110-112934d
Good To Soft1867/110-013026d
Good To Soft171015/210-613433d
Good To Soft23712/110-1114341d
Good23820/110-1113213d
Good2497/110-0130104d
Good2194/110-113040d
Good2158/110-013416d
Good1896/110-013126d
Good To Firm1679/210-1113212d
Good To Soft1587/210-112311d
Good1767/211-613928d
Good161220/111-414519d

 

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 

NoPlaceDist BtHorseAgeORTrainerJockey (Claim)Odds
101stChosen Mate (IRE)7147Elliott, GordonRussell, D N7/2 (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
82nd1.75Eclair De Beaufeu (FR)6149Elliott, GordonOKeeffe, 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
93rd3.5Us And Them (IRE)7148OBrien, Joseph PatrickSlevin, J J10/1
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
74thNKGreaneteen (FR)6150Nicholls, P FCobden, Harry5/1
raced keenly, in touch in mid-division, effort 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat BF IP MIN 5 BF IP MAX 1000
195th2.75Theinval (FR)10141Henderson, N JMcGrath, Jeremiah50/1
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway last, stayed on flat, never nearer BF IP MIN 40 BF IP MAX 1000
116th0.5Ballywood (FR)6146King, ABellamy, Tom28/1
held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven from 2 out, kept on flat BF IP MIN 13 BF IP MAX 1000
167th1.25Lisp (IRE)6144King, ACannon, Tom J7/1
held up in mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, kept on flat but no impression BF IP MIN 7.2 BF IP MAX 1000
208th2.75The Bay Birch (IRE)9140Sheppard, MSheppard, Stan50/1
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, weakened before last BF IP MIN 65 BF IP MAX 1000
159thNSECroco Bay (IRE)13144Case, B IWoods, K K25/1
prominent, pecked 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression after BF IP MIN 44 BF IP MAX 1000
1710thNKJan Maat (GER)7142Bromhead, Henry DeBlackmore, Rachael12/1
chased leaders, led when stumbled 2 out, soon headed, weakened final 150 yards BF IP MIN 4 BF IP MAX 1000
1411th0.5Two Taffs (IRE)10144Skelton, DanielSkelton, Harry14/1
chased leaders, driven before 2 out, weakened before last BF IP MIN 9 BF IP MAX 1000
412th0.75Paloma Blue (IRE)8152Bromhead, Henry DeColeman, A17/2
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakening when mistake last BF IP MIN 6 BF IP MAX 1000
213th0.5Marracudja (FR)9154Skelton, DanielAndrews, Bridget50/1
prominent, led 10th, hit 3 out, headed next, slow and beaten last, weakened flat BF IP MIN 15.5 BF IP MAX 1000
314th17Capeland (FR)8153Nicholls, P FFrost, Bryony25/1
mistakes, always behind BF IP MIN 32 BF IP MAX 1000
1315th5Winter Escape (IRE)9144Haslam, B M RWalsh, M P33/1
always in rear BF IP MIN 60 BF IP MAX 1000
1PUGreat Field (FR)9155ONeill, JonjoMcGarvey, J S33/1
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
5PUMcgroarty (IRE)9152Newland, Dr R D PTwiston-Davies, Sam50/1
prominent, lost place 4th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 4 out BF IP MIN 100 BF IP MAX 1000
6PUGino Trail (IRE)13151OBrien, FergalMoore, Jamie20/1
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

DateGoingRunnersWinnerStallionAgeJockey (Clm)TrainerOddsWeightORDays
Heavy161028/110-613639d
Good To Soft19814/111-615230d
Good To Soft1877/211-414750d
Good To Soft191266/110-12139227d
Soft22715/211-815090d
Good24910/111-5147146d
Good24628/111-014092d
Soft20816/111-2143104d
Good23816/111-514754d
Soft2393/110-1114040d
Good21820/110-213830d
Good23940/110-1314528d
Soft19716/110-112934d
Good To Soft1867/110-013026d
Good To Soft171015/210-613433d
Good To Soft23712/110-1114341d
Good23820/110-1113213d
Good2497/110-0130104d
Good2194/110-113040d
Good2158/110-013416d
Good1896/110-013126d
Good To Firm1679/210-1113212d
Good To Soft1587/210-112311d
Good1767/211-613928d
Good161220/111-414519d

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Cheltenham Festival Wednesday

Race Schedule

START TIMESRACEDISTANCETYPE
13:30The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race2m abt 5fHurdle
14:10The Festival Novices’ Chase (RSA Chase) (Grade 1)3m abt ½ fChase
14:50The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Grade 3)2m abt 5fHurdle
15:30The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
(feature race)
Abt 2mChase
16:10The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase3m 6fChase
16:50The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3)2m abt ½fChase
17.30The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)2m abt ½fBumper

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