The Grand Annual is an ultra-competitive handicap that is now run on day 2 of the Festival. The 2m contest was won last season in impressive style by Jonjo O’Neill’s Sky Pirate. Andrew Mount has previewed this event alongside an exclusive 888sport sign-up offer of Bet £10 – Get £45 Sign-up offer.
JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Cheltenham 4:50pm, Wednesday, March 16)
Key Stats and Trends
Recent Form
Five of the last ten winners finished first or second in their prep race and backing all 87 qualifiers would have yielded a profit of £24.50 to a £1 level stake at SP.
Prep Race
All ten winners ran over fences last time out. Those who didn’t were 0-20.
Absence Since Last Race
In the past ten years backing all those runners who had been off the track for more than 90 days would have found four winners from 35 bets for a profit of £89.00.
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Headgear
Those running without any form of headgear are just two from 109 in the past ten years for a loss of £76.00 (expected winners = five). Horses in headgear were eight from 104 for a profit of £65.00.
Handicap Mark
Eight of the ten winners were rated between 138 and 147, the others ran off marks of 150 and 152.
Running Style
Six winners were ridden patiently, three were prominent and one made the running.
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Jockey Claim
Jockeys able to claim a weight allowance are 0-36 in the past ten years.
Previous Cheltenham Festival Experience
Eight of the last ten winners had run at a previous Cheltenham festival (+£41.50)
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The Main Contenders
GENTLEMAN DE MEE
Willie Mullins’ six-year-old started as the 4-1 favourite for last year’s Martin Pipe but could only finish tenth of 22 after racing freely. He broke his chase duck at the third attempt, coming home 34 lengths of his nearest rival when 1-2 favourite at Naas on February 10. He improved for going from the front that day and could go well, assuming the British handicapper doesn’t overreact to his latest performance.
COEUR SUBLIME
Henry De Bromhead’s seven-year-old is a 20-1 shot for the Arkle but would be of interest if coming here instead. His record below Grade 1 level reads 112F43121 (4-9) and his owner won this with Tiger Cry in 2008.
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA
I gave The Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old an each-way chance in the Champion Chase when I previewed that Grade 1 contest and he has to be of interest if coming here instead, despite the big weight he’ll be set to carry.
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BRAVE SEASCA
The seven-year-old, a stablemate of Funambule Sivola, is unbeaten in three starts since his chase debut, winning by a combined margin of 20 lengths. He appreciated the return to a left-handed track when slamming Sky Pirate by seven lengths at Warwick in mid-January, though does look dependent on soft or heavy going.
SKY PIRATE
Jonjo O’Neill’s nine-year-old was rated 152 when winning this by a short head from Entoucas at 14-1 last year. He’s going to be higher in the weights this time around and isn’t in the same sort of form approaching the race, having failed to score in his first four starts this term. He was due to complete his Cheltenham preparations in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on February 12.
AMARILLO SKY
Colin Tizzard’s six-year-old was going strongly when tipping up at Newbury on January 19 and had earlier finished a good second to Brave Seasca at Ascot. He won on unseasonably fast ground at Wincanton in November but his others wins have come in the spring and he should have heaps more to offer if none the worse for his Newbury fall.
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BUDDY RICH
Gordon Elliott’s nine-year-old is best on a sound surface and broke his chase duck on good ground at left-handed Navan in November. He was only fourth when the 5-2 favourite at Fairyhouse next time but frontrunners enjoyed a massive edge that day (the winner made all) and he was always struggling to get involved under a patient ride.
THIRD TIME LUCKI
Dan Skelton’s seven-year-old had Buddy Rich well back in second when landing a novices’ chase here in October and followed up at the November meeting. He’s won in Grade 2 company since then and looks far more likely to line up in the Arkle.
GRANGE WALK
The seven-year-old fared best of the closers when runner-up to Dunvegan at Fairyhouse in late November and went one bet when 18-1 at Leopardstown the following month. He chased home A Wave Of The Sea at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) to take his record in handicap chases to F1221F2 (2-7).
EDITEUR DU GITE
Gary Moore’s eight-year-old missed the festival last year but won the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree and has landed both completed starts this term in game fashion from the front here at Cheltenham. He missed an intended engagement in the Game Spirit and, while interesting from a place perspective if coming here, he might be a little too high in the handicap.
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GRAND ANNUAL VERDICT
Another race which requires more work once the entries and weights are known, especially given the fairly narrow ratings band in which the majority of recent winners have come from. GRANGE WALK, who has never finished outside the first two when completing the course in a handicap chase, handles most ground conditions and gets a tentative vote at this stage. Coeur Sublime, Amarillo Sky and Buddy Rich are also respected.
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