Grand Annual Chase

by Darren Brett
A handicap chase over 2m 110 yards which was moved to become the last race of the Festival from 2010

Grand Annual Chase Trends

10/10	had won over at least 2m 1f
10/10	carried 10st 13lb or less
9/10	had won no more than one race that season
9/10	were aged nine or under
9/10	had no more than twelve races over fences
8/10	had run at the Festival before
7/10	were rated 129-134

Grand Annual Chase Trends Analysis

Similarly to most of the other handicaps at the Festival, we should be looking for a low weighted runner towards the head of the market.

Runners rated 129-134 had a remarkable run in this race winning eight of the last ten renewals and horses on that rating have also filled the first two places home four times in the last ten years but this trend may be changing as the spread of ratings in last year's race was between 136-162. It would seem classier horses are starting to go for the Grand Annual.

Novices have a good record in this race - three recent winners of this race, Bellvano, Oh Crick and Pigeon Island, were all in their novice season Try to find a novice rated under 138 - novices rated over that mark have struggled.

As stated often on this site, previous Festival form is a big plus point with eight out of the ten winners having run at the Festival before at least once - a whopping twenty-six of the forty placed horses also met that criteria!

Grand Annual Last Ten Winners

Table below shows the last ten winners of the race, their age and weight at the time of winning, trainer, jockey and odds (starting price).

Year	Horse	Age	Trainer	Jockey	Price
2013	Alderwood	9-10-11	T Mullins	AP McCoy	3/1F
2012	Bellvano	8-10-2	N Henderson	P Carberry	20/1
2011	Oiseau De Nuit	9-10-13	C Tizzard	S Clements	40/1
2010	Pigeon Island	7-10-1	N Twiston-Davies	P Brennan	16/1
2009	Oh Crick	6-10-0	A King	W Hutchinson	7/1
2008	Tiger Cry	10-10-6	A Moore	D Russell	15/2
2007	Andreas	7-10-11	P Nicholls	R Thornton	12/1
2006	Greenhope	8-10-11	N Henderson	A Tinkler	20/1
2005	Fota Island	9-10-0	M Morris	P Carberry	7/1
2004	St Pirran	9-10-1	P Nicholls	R Walsh	4/1F

Grand Annual Preview and Tips

Since the race was named after his father in 2005 Nicky Henderson has had twenty-five runners in the race and has had winners at 20/1 and placed horses at 16/1, 10/1, 3/1, 10/1, 10/1, 9/1 and 33/1

A £1ew stake on all Henderson runners in this race since 2005 would have you £33.75 in profit.

This will always be a race that the Henderson stable will focus on and their runners will always require close attention when making your bets but just be aware that Henderson’s keenness to win this race is well documented and there is a chance his horses will become overbacked.