The Grand Annual Chase tips come from the oldest race that there is in National Hunt racing and is a wonderful part of the Cheltenham Festival.
The race was first run back in 1834, way before the Cheltenham Festival was even a thing.
It is formally the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase which is a popular Grade 3 fixture at a distance of 2m.
Our racing experts look through this year’s field for Grand Annual Chase tips, as we examine the latest odds and trends associated with this historic race.
The Grand Annual Chase betting is the penultimate race on Cheltenham Festival Day 2.
For just the second year it is run on the Old Course, having been moved from Day 4 to Wednesday last year
Grand Annual Chase Racing Odds
Andy Dufrense 7/1
Amarillo Sky 8/1
Buddy Rich 8/1
Embittered 9/1
Editeur Du Gite 10/1
Thyme White 10/1
Sky Pirate 12/1
Frero Banbou 14/1
Before Midnight 14/1
Dancing On My Own 18/1
Elixir De Nutz 18/1
Il Ridotto 20/1
A Wave Of The Sea 20/1
Gumball 22/1
Poseidon 25/1
Exit Poll 25/1
Global Citizen 50/1
Capuccumix 40/1
Hasankey 50/1
* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred)
Horse Racing Betting at Betfred
Table of Contents
- 1 FAV in Grand Annual Chase Racing Odds
- 2 Grand Annual Chase Betting Contenders
- 3 Other runners to note Grand Annual Handicap Chase Cheltenham Festival 2022
- 4 Last 10 Grand Annual Chase Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
- 5 Grand Annual Chase Trends
- 6 Grand Annual Chase Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
- 7 Cheltenham Festival Betting Offer 2022
Grand Annual Chase Race Details Cheltenham Festival
- Grade 3
- 5-year-olds plus
- 20 declared runners
- 2m
- 13 hurdles
- Going: Good To Soft
FAV in Grand Annual Chase Racing Odds
ANDY DUFRESNE is the current narrow 7/1 market leader in Grand Annual odds* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred).
He opened his chasing career last season with back to back opening wins. One of those was a Grade 3 at Navan.
On his seasonal reappearance, Andy Dufrense ran up to his best by claiming a second-place finish at Nass in November.
The form reads very well from that as he had conceded 7lb to a good rival.
The low mileage Andy Dufresne has been away since then.
The Gordon Elliott-trained 8-year-old moves into handicapping for this effort and he could be a big player.
Grand Annual Chase Betting Contenders
ELIXIR DE NUTZ collected a comfortable win at Kempton on his latest run, which was in February. Notably, that was at a longer distance.
The 18/1 shot has a good engine on him* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred)..
If he is in the mix going up the hill, Elixir De Nutz probably won’t be the one to tire first.
EDITEUR DU GITE has cracking form having won his last two efforts. He has improved greatly in chasing this season.
Editeur Du Gite is a big bold front runner and his statistics suit him well.
In the Grand Annual betting odds he has drifted just a tad to 10/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred).
There’s a lot to like about him, however, but he will face a stiffer challenge from a career-high mark.
SKY PIRATE won last year’s renewal of the Grand Annual at the Festival.
He made the most of an opportunity there from 4lb lower.
He has been running well in defeat all season. If he continues in the same kind of form then Sky Pirate should rate as a danger at 12/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred).
THYME WHITE is another interesting one after taking a victory in a Doncaster novices’ handicap chase on his latest run.
That was in December and he has been resting up since then.
But that was an impressive enough score, taking his form forward.
Other runners to note Grand Annual Handicap Chase Cheltenham Festival 2022
AMARILLO SKY has won two of his last four runs. But he got on the radar after scoring impressively at Newbury last month.
The handicapper has been on his back a bit, however.
DANCING ON MY OWN steps into a handicap debut over the fences on Wednesday and could be a fascinating one to watch. He won his season opener after a long break and excuses can be found in his last two efforts.
BUDDY RICH has been in fine form for most of the season and he picked up a maiden chase success at Navan in November.
His handicap debut didn’t go great later that month but can challenge from fresh.
EMBITTERED had been well back in last year’s Grand Annual. But he responded by taking a couple of chase victories after that.
The pick of those was a Grade 3 in October. He hasn’t had the same impact in pattern company since, but there’s a chance he has simply been geared towards another run in this.
GUMBALL looks to be on a fair enough mark from which to make a reasonable challenge.
He was a runner up at Ludlow on a 2m trip in December on his latest run. A little break since then should give him some claims and he will have the cheekpieces for the first time.
Last 10 Grand Annual Chase Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
| Year | Winner | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2021 | Sky Pirate | 14/1 | Nick Scholfield | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2020 | Chosen Mate | 7/2F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | Croco Bay | 66/1 | Kielan Woods | Ben Case |
| 2018 | Le Prezien | 15/2 | Barry Geraghty | Paul Nicholls |
| 2017 | Rock The World | 10/1 | Robbie Power | Jessica Harrington |
| 2016 | Solar Impulse | 28/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2015 | Next Sensation | 16/1 | Tom Scudamore | Michael Scudamore |
| 2014 | Savello | 16/1 | Davy Russell | A J Martin |
| 2013 | Alderwood | 3/1F | A P McCoy | Thomas Mullins |
| 2012 | Bellvano | 20/1 | Paul Carberry | Nicky Henderson |
Grand Annual Chase Trends
The Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival has seen just two winning favourites get home in the last 10 renewals. The most recent of those was in 2020 when Chosen Mate delivered from a 7/2 SP.
But looking at things the other way, seven of the last ten renewals of this famous old race were won by a horse at double figures.
The biggest of those was the 66/1 gamble landed by Croco Bay in 2019.
Five of the last seven renewals of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual have produced a winner from a British yard.
Grand Annual Chase Trends Cheltenham Festival
- There have been 2 winning favourites in the last 10 renewals
- Paul Nicholls is the leading trainer with 4 win sin the last 20 renewals
- Davy Russell leading the active jockey stats with 3 wins
- Had not had their last run at Doncaster, Ascot or Sandown last time out 20/20
- Between 1-7 starts for the season had been made 20/20
- 3-8 career wins had been landed 20/20
- Was not at longer odds than 7/1 for the last victory 19/20
- A claimer was not on the Grand Annual winner 19/20
- Had ran in a field of 4-14 last time out 19/20
Grand Annual Chase Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
This is another of those big fields at the Cheltenham Festival which can be a little tough to pick through.
On the form, ANDY DUFRESNE should be in with a shout after going close when conceding a lot of weight against a good rival last time out.
Winning form from last season should give him a reasonable run at this from a 7/1 mark in Grand Annual Chase betting* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred).
ELIXIR DU NUTZ has to have plenty of appeal as well after having won the last twice. He’s done little wrong lately and this is a bigger challenge for him.
But Elixir De Nutz has the tremendous staying ability and can feature from 18/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Betfred).
There are two more for the shortlist in this contest as it is a big field and the first of those is EDITEUR DU GITE.
He may be worth considering despite him coming in on a career-high mark as his recent form has been excellent.
The final one is BUDDY RICH as he comes in nice and fresh. He will be potentially better for having gotten his handicap debut under his belt.
Cheltenham Festival Betting Offer 2022
Bookmaker Betfred have a Cheltenham Festival Free Bet offer running for this year’s famous meeting.
Back a horse in the first race of any day during Cheltenham 2022 at Betfred.
If that selection finishes second, then Betfred will refund your stake in Free Bets up to £20.
The Cheltenham Festival offer is available on Betfred.com and the Betfred App.
Offer applies if your selection finishes 2nd in the:
Grand Annual Chase (13:30 15/03/22)
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (13:30 16/03/22)
Turners Novices’ Chase (13:30 17/03/22)
Triumph Hurdle (13:30 18/03/22)
Key T&Cs: Selection must finish 2nd in the first race of any day during Cheltenham 2022. Does not apply to ante-post bets. Win singles & win part of e/w bets. Free Bets paid within 24hrs min 50p, max £20 and removed after 7 days if not used. 5 or more runners must start the race. Full T&Cs apply.
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs
