Cheltenham Festival 202412 – 15 March 2024

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase Betting Tips and Race Preview – Cheltenham Festival Horse Racing 2023

Jockey celebrating after the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase

The Grand Annual Handicap Chase is the final race of the Cheltenham Festival and a great, traditional ending to what will have been a thrilling week of horse racing. In typical fashion, the Cheltenham Festival ends with one of the toughest races of the week, this is a hugely competitive handicap, where many horses will head in thinking they have a chance. If you are looking at the last race as a race you need to find the winner to make a profit at Cheltenham, then good luck!

Looking back at the race over the past ten years, many horses have entered the race as strong favourites, potentially well handicapped and with the race as their season long target. Being just over two miles, this race is a great jumping test and the horses in this race need to be able to jump not only well, but quickly so they can keep up with the strong pace in the race. This also makes it a great race to watch, with plenty of drama and excitement throughout the race. Let's check our Cheltenham Grand Annual Tips!

Grand Annual Chase Tips – Day 4, 17:30

Favourites Horse Odds Best Bookmaker Triumph Hurdle Tips
#1 Gumball 14/1 William Hill Read Gumball Preview Here
#2 Apples Shakira 25/1 Bet365 Read Apples Shakira Preview Here

2023 Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase Preview

Jockey in the middle of a small crowd at Cheltenham

In this race last season, Rock The World rounded off a great Cheltenham Festival for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power. He stayed on well up the Cheltenham hill to take the final race of the meeting, and since then he has gone on to finish fourth in a Grade One and second in a Grade Three. This shows he was well handicapped at the time, and that is what you need in this race if you are to succeed, it is very competitive.

Looking further back, this race has gone to Ireland in three of the last five running’s, so make sure you take a look at their entries when they come out. However, no trainer has won the race more than once in the past ten years, making it difficult to pick out any trends to follow in the Grand Annual.

If you want to look out for one stable and the entries they have in the race then take a look at the yard of Nicky Henderson. He has only won the race once in the past ten years, but it is a race that he targets with many horses because it is named after his father. Johnny Henderson was one of a few people to realise the potential of the Cheltenham Festival and to safeguard the race course, he along with other members of the Jockey Club, bought the racecourse for £240,000 in the early 1960’s.

Grand Annual Chase Tips – Cheltenham 2023

Favourites Horse Odds Best Bookmaker Bet Now
#1 Gumball 14/1 William Hill Bet Now
#2 Apples Shakira 25/1 Bet365 Bet Now

Grand Annual Chase Betting Odds

Cheltenham Festival

Odds will appear here…

Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase Winners

With few stats to go on, it can be extremely difficult to pick out the possible Grand Annual Steeplechase winners at Cheltenham. Look out for a horse who can jump well, because they will need to jump at speed in this race. Also look for a horse that you believe is well handicapped and one that can leave this race and go on to bigger and better things.

Last 10 winners

Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2018 Le Prezien B J Geraghty P F Nicholls
2017 Rock The World R.Power J.Harrington
2016 Solar Impulse S.Twiston-Davies P.Nicholls
2015 Next Sensation T.Scudamore M.Scudamore
2014 Savello D.Russell A.Martin
2013 Alderwood A.P.McCoy T.Mullins
2012 Bellvano P.Carberry N.Henderson
2011 Oiseau De Nuit S.Clements C.Tizzard
2010 Pigeon Island P.Brennan N.Twiston-Davies
2009 Oh Crick W.Hutchinson A.King

Leading Trainers

Wins Trainer Years
2 P.Nicholls 2018, 2016
1 J.Harrington 2017
1 M.Scudamore 2015
1 A.Martin 2014
1 T.Mullins 2013
1 N.Henderson 2012
1 C.Tizzard 2011
1 N.Twiston-Davies 2010

Leading Jockeys

Wins Jockey Years
2 D.Russell 2008, 2014
1 B J Geraghty 2018
1 R.Power 2017
1 S.Twiston-Davies 2016
1 T.Scudamore 2015
1 A.P.McCoy 2013
1 P.Carberry 2012
1 S.Clements 2011
1 P.Brennan 2010

Cheltenham 2023 Grand Annual Chase Race Conditions

Albert Bartlett during a race at Cheltenham last year

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is the traditional closer to the Cheltenham Festival and as you would expect, it is a terribly difficult race to solve as a punter. The race is ran over the distance of just over two miles, and combines a great test of speed and jumping ability.

The Cheltenham Grand Annual is a chase race and horses aged five years old and up can enter, meaning there will be a good spread of young up and coming horses, as well as some older experienced handicappers. 

Location Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham England
Race Type Handicap chase
Distance Two miles and half a furlong (2M ½ F)
Age Five year and older
Surface Turf