Grand Annual Chase Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2024 - DAY 2)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Grand Annual Chase has been moved to the Wednesday of Cheltenham Festival in 2024. 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. Henry De Bromhead's Maskada was a surprising winner of the 2023 Grand Annual, at odds of 22/1. Find below our Cheltenham 2024 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 £110,000. 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.
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Who will win the Grand Annual Chase 2024?
Willie Mullins’ Grade 1 winner SAINT ROI would be dropping into handicap company for the first time over fences off a mark of 152. This gelding hasn't tasted victory in over a year and has been long odds in his last five outings, all of which came in Ireland. He finished second in the Grade 1 Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices' Chase at last year's Grand National meeting.
Last year's winner MASKADA has disappointed all season, but there was no fluke about her win in 2023. She will have to defy an 8lb higher mark if she is going to repeat her Grand Annual success. She is 0-3 in Ireland this season, having run in graded/Listed races that include a third-place finish behind Champion Chase favourite El Fabiolo at Cork in November.
Sophie Leech's MADARA won well at Cheltenham in December, before going on to land a decent pot at the Dublin Racing Festival.
LIBBERTY HUNTER is on a hat-trick for Evan Williams, including most recently a victory over a similar distance at Cheltenham on New Year's Day in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.
Dark horses?
HARPER'S BROOK won over this distance at Sandown last time out but has a poor record at Cheltenham while Gordon Elliott's SA FUREUR, pulled up in last year's Coral Cup, was recently second underJack Kennedy at Naas in January over 2m and will make makes his debut in a handicap chase here.PATH D'OROUX has failed to win over the fences under a series of riders and finished almost three lengths behind Madara at Leopardstown last time out.
HARDY DU SEUIL finished a good third at Sandown in February returning to the chase circuit and was impressive as a novice two seasons back.
DANCING ON MY OWN was a distant 10th under Darragh O'Keeffe in this race two years ago, but was successful when ridden by Blackmore over course and distance last October.
Other possible contenders include Dan Skelton's CALICO, and IN EXCELSIS DEO for Harry Fry, SOLNESS, UNEXPECTED PARTY, THE KING OF PRS and TRIPLE TRADE.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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GRAND ANNUAL CHASE TRENDS
- Just 2 of the last 19 favourites won
- Just 1 of the last 17 winners won last time out
- Top weights have failed to win in the last 30 renewals
- 8 of the last 10 winners carried 11 stone+
- 10 of the last 14 winners came from outside the top 5 in the betting
- 8 of the last 20 winners had run in the previous Grand Annual Chase renewal
- 12 of the last 13 winners were rated at least 138
- 13 of the last 20 winners were aged 8 or older
GRAND ANNUAL CHASE PREDICTIONS
Find here our recommended bets on the Grand Annual Chase 2024. 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.
* tipped on 24th February 2024
2024 GRAND ANNUAL CHASE FREE BETS
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2024 CHELTENHAM DAY 2 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
Are you looking for all the 2024 Cheltenham predictions? Visit our Cheltenham betting tips section here!
2024 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 13, 2024 and the official starting time is 4:50pm.
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 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be £125,000.
Who won the Grand Annual Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Maskada at SP of 22/1, trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe.
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 10 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).
