Grand Annual Chase Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2025 - DAY 2)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Grand Annual Chase has been moved to the Wednesday of Cheltenham Festival in 2025. It is the also the oldest race to be run during the four days. It is a class B grade 3 handicap chase run over two miles and 110 yards, open to 5 year old and older chasers. Dan Skelton's Unexpected Party was a surprising winner of the 2024 Grand Annual, at odds of 12/1. Find below our Cheltenham 2025 Grand Annual Chase race preview, with odds, tips, predictions, trends, free bets and betting promotions.
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GRAND ANNUAL CHASE BETTING PREVIEW
The Grand Annual Chase (also known as the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase) has been moved to Day 2 after being the last race of the Festival for many years. It's a Grade 3 National Hunt chase, run over two miles and half-a-furlong, for horses aged five years and upwards, with a prize pure of £150,000. It is the shortest distance handicap chase run at the Festival, featuring 14 fences to be jumped.
A thrilling finale, with a huge field of two mile handicappers whizzing round. The betting is usually very competitive as it generally involves a lot of casual punters.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Grand Annual Chase 2025?
Winner of the Grand Annual last March, UNEXPECTED PARTY is 0-4 this season but has run some pleasing races while MY MATE MOZZIE ran well at the Dublin Racing Festival but as typical of him, he didn't hit the line as he weakened in the last furlong and was beaten by An Peann Dearg. That run, however would have put him spot on for this and his strong form in similar races both over jumps and on the flat gives him a huge chance here.
TOUCH ME NOT has been a revelation over fences and also showed when second in the Irish Arkle while Emmet Mullins' SO SCOTTISH has been out of form on both starts over hurdles this season but freshened up and back over fences with a good racing weight. He could be a lurker in here.
JAZZY MATTY won the 2023 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap hurdle two years ago. He also had a great run in Cheltenham in October, running a head second to Path D’Oroux despite giving him 8lbs.
THE KING OF PRS fell fairly early in this race 12 months ago but has done nothing but progress during his second season over fences. Cromwell's seven-year-old, s ran well in defeat behind The Folkes Tiara and An Pean Dearg on his first two starts, before scoring in the Dan & Joan Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse with relative ease.
JPR ONE will be carrying top-weight while Paul Nolan's AN PEANN DEARG won at Leopardstown this season and should still get in with a lightweight. He is improving and could be an interesting each-way option.
Dark Horses?
Once classy performer for Dan Skelton, THIRD TIME LUCKI has run some fine races around here and it is possible new connections have been taking their time with him with the idea of him coming to the boil here in this race. He has a lovely low weight.
AMERICAN MIKE has a good potential. He Finished 4 1/2l behind The King Of Prs when fourth of 12 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 chase at Fairyhouse over 2m 1f in January while GENERAL MEDRANO has been a brilliant servant this year and hasn’t been out of the money. He was beaten 1 3/4l by Petit Tonnerre when second of 7 on his latest outing in a chase at Doncaster.
Other possibile horses with a Top 3 ambition are AMERICAN MIKE, GENERAL MEDRANO, DANCING ON MY OWN, THIRD TIME LUCKI and THE OTHER MOZZIE.
Latest Odds
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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GRAND ANNUAL CHASE TRENDS
- Just 2 of the last 20 favourites won
- Just 1 of the last 18 winners won last time out
- Top weights have failed to win in the last 31 renewals
- 8 of the last 11 winners carried 11 stone+
- 11 of the last 15 winners came from outside the top 5 in the betting
- 8 of the last 21 winners had run in the previous Grand Annual Chase renewal
- 13 of the last 14 winners were rated at least 138
- 14 of the last 21 winners were aged 8 or older
GRAND ANNUAL CHASE PREDICTIONS
Find here our recommended bets on the Grand Annual Chase 2025. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival betting tips and get the highest prices available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button! You can also claim enhanced odds by visiting our today's price boosts offers here. Plus, we invite you to follow our Horse Racing Bet of the Day section.
Ruby Walsh's Grand Annual Chase Tips
Cheltenham Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh has shared his Grand Annual tips.
"Last year’s winner Unexpected Party has a massive chance again. THIRD TIME LUCKI ran well enough on his first run for Fergal O’Brien’s yard, he’s dropped enough in the weights and he’s an each-way poke."
2025 GRAND ANNUAL CHASE FREE BETS
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2025 CHELTENHAM DAY 2 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
Are you looking for all the 2025 Cheltenham predictions? Visit our Cheltenham betting tips section here!
2025 GRAND ANNUAL CHASE FAQs
What time is the Grand Annual Chase?
The Grand Annual Chase is the sixth race run on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Wednesday March 12, 2025 and the official starting time is 4:40pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Grand Annual Chase?
There are 14 obstacles to jump for the Grand Annual Chase runners
What is the distance of the Grand Annual Chase?
The Grand Annual Chase is run on a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards
What is the prize money for the Grand Annual Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the Grand Annual Chase at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be £150,000.
Who won the Grand Annual Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Unexpected Party at SP of 12/1, trained by Harry Skelton and ridden by Dan Skelton.
What weights are carried for the Grand Annual Chase?
As it is a traditional National Hunt handicap steeplechase, weights range from 11 st 12 lb for the top weight, to 10 st for the bottom weight.
Who is the leading jockey in the Grand Annual Chase?
Only Davy Russell and Kielan Woods have won the Grand Annual more than once in the last 11 years. Graham Bradley, has ridden four winners (the last back in 1997).
Who is the leading trainer in the Grand Annual Chase?
Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race four times in all, more than any other trainer. The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins is Nicky Henderson (2).
