Our Grand Annual Chase betting preview sizes up the lay of the land for this Cheltenham Festival Day 2 fixture. This is the penultimate fixture of the day.
The Grand Annual is the oldest of all the races that are part of the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year the race had a change as it was moved from Day 4 up to Day 2 and therefore switched to the Old Course for the first time.
Our betting experts take a look through the Grand Annual Chase betting for this year’s renewal at the Festival.
Grand Annual Chase Details
Date: March 16th, 2022
Time: 16:15
Grade: Grade 3
Distance: 2m
Age: 5 year olds plus
Grand Annual Chase Favourites and Outsiders
The Grand Annual Chase is an interesting 2m contest and their recent renewals have seen some longer-priced options land the win.
Getting to the line first last season was Sky Pirate from a 14/1 SP for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
Six of the last ten renewals of the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival have been won at an SP of 14/1 or more.
So this is one of those markets where punters can take a look at some long odds.
Favourites have not had the greatest of times recently in the fixture, with there having been only two winning favourites in the last 10 renewals.
The longest priced winner in that span was Croco Bay in 2019 who landed a massive 66/1 gamble to upset the odds.
Our betting experts look at some of those heading up this year’s market as well as some that have some each way considerations for the contest.
Table of Contents
- 1 Grand Annual Chase Details
- 2 Grand Annual Chase Favourites and Outsiders
- 3 Grand Annual Chase Odds Cheltenham 2022
- 4 About the Grand Annual Chase
- 5 Grand Annual Chase contenders – 16th March 2022
- 6 Grand Annual Chase Trends Cheltenham 2022
- 7 Grand Annual Chase 2021 Review
- 8 Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 2
- 9 Grand Annual Chase Former Winners
- 10 Grand Annual Chase Betting Offers
Grand Annual Chase Odds Cheltenham 2022
While we can take a look at the ante-post Grand Annual Chase odds for 2022, the market will likely take on a different complexion closer to the start of the Festival.
When the final declarations for the Grand Annual Chase, which happens 48 hours out, are in, punters will know exactly who is going to the start.
For now, here is a list of current Grand Annual Chase odds taken at the time of writing.
Buddy Rich 7/1
Brave Seasca 8/1
Ciel De Neige 8/1
Embittered 9/1
Amarillo Sky 10/1
Coeur Sublime 10/1
Thyme White 12/1
Frero Banou 14/1
Andy Dufresne 14/1
Sky Pirate 14/1
Editeur Du Gîte 16/1
Elixir De Butz 16/1
Before Midnight 16/1
Il Ridoto 201
A Wave Of The Sea 20/1
Red Rookie 20/1
Shakem Up’Arry 20/1
Stepney Causeway 20/1
Pistol Whipped 201
25/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 20:26 GMT on March 9th, 2022 at Coral)
About the Grand Annual Chase
The official name of this race is the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase which is a Grade 3 fixture.
It was moved to the Old Course in 2021 and that was to make way for the new Mares’ Chase that slotted into the Friday line-up.
The Grand Annual is named after Jonny Henderson (father of Nicky Henderson) who initiated the purchase of the racecourse to save it from falling to property developers.
There is no race at the Cheltenham Festival that is older than the Grand Annual, but because of breaks, isn’t the one that has had the most renewals.
The first-ever Grand Annual was held in 1834, predating the Cheltenham Festival by some distance.
The Grand Annual Chase was cut down to 20 runners in 2019 and due to safety in the race, which is contested over a 2m distance.
Grand Annual Chase contenders – 16th March 2022
For the next part of this Grand Annual Chase betting preview for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, we study some front-runners in the market.
As things have been shaping up so far in the ante-post market for the fixture, it looks like once again being a wide-open renewal of the Grand Annual.
BUDDY RICH is the current 7/1 favourite in the Grand Annual Chase betting market* (odds recorded at 20:26 GMT on March 9th, 2022 at Coral).
The Gordon Elliott-trained 9-year-old is a good consistent performer with a solid season under his belt in Beginners and Novice chasing.
Buddy Rich made his handicap debut in November when he was a fourth of ten at Fairyhouse and he will go straight to the Cheltenham Festival fresh with some solid claims.
BRAVE SEASCA looks like being a big player in this one with some fantastic seasonal form.
He completed a hattrick in mid-January with a victory over last year’s Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate at Warwick.
Brave Seasca was defeated back at the same venue when being pushed up to Grade 3 in mid-February, but that was a race won by the brilliant Edwardstone and Brave Seasca wasn’t disgraced at all.
He should have big claims from 8/1 if he is sent to this* (odds recorded at 20:26 GMT on March 9th, 2022 at Coral).
CIEL DE NEIGE has also been in cracking form this season as he compiled a hattrick with a score at Punchestown last month.
There has been a rapid process made by him since switching to the fences, and further progress would likely see him heavily involved.
There’s a good competitive field here, but most of them host duel entries with other fixtures.
Those final declarations are going to be very interesting for this renewal of the Grand Annual.
Others that do catch the eye in the ante-post Grand Annual Chase betting line up are ELIXIR DE NUTZ, THYME WHITE and EDITOR DU GITE.
Last year’s winner SKY PIRATE is also there trading at 14/1 for a successful return* (odds recorded at 20:26 GMT on March 9th, 2022 at Coral).
Grand Annual Chase Trends Cheltenham 2022
For the next part of this Grand Annual Chase Preview 2022, we are going to dive into some of the trends surrounding the event.
To do that, we cast an eye back over the last 20 editions of this Grade 3 fixture.
Grand Annual Chase Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Grand Annual over the last two decades is Paul Nicholls who has seen four of his charges successfully get home.
That has been from 36 entries in that span. So it’s a very good strike rate.
Nicky Henderson and Alan Moore are the only other two to have won more than once in the last 20 renewals (2). However, Henderson’s have come from 41 entries, while Moore has picked up 2 wins from 9 runners.
Grand Annual Chase Jockey Statistics
Davy Russell has taken three wins in the last 20 renewals of the Grand Annual Chase. His most recent success in the Cheltenham Festival fixture was in 2020 on the back of Chosen Mate who had been the 7/2F.
Russell is the only active jockey to have won the race more than once in the last two decades. It will be interesting to see who he goes with for this year’s renewal.
Other Key Grand Annual Chase Trends
Our betting experts now turn some focus towards some of the main Grand Annual Chase trends.
Closer to the start of the Festival when the full line up for the Grand Annual Chase is now, our experts will pull together some more in-depth racing tips.
Each of the 20 renewals of the Grand Annual has been won by a horse that had had no more than 7 starts for the season, and who didn’t run at Ascot, Doncaster or Sandown last time out.
Between 3-8 career wins is the sweet spot it seems for picking out a Grand Annual tip, and none of the last 20 renewals was won by a horse that had placed bigger than 25/1 in their career.
There has been just one claimer win in the last 20 renewals and all but two of the previous 20 winners had had a previous run at Cheltenham at some point.
Grand Annual Chase 2021 Review
Last year’s Grand Annual Chase renewal was won by SKY PIRATE who found himself in a very good position and was travelling ever so smoothly. He just kept in there and was going well at the late.
He was under some big pressure though by ENTOUCAS who was keeping on very well towards the finish. But Sky Pirate did just enough to hold on by a short head in one of the 2021 Festival’s closest finishes.
Combing home third in the contest was IBLEO who was more than three lengths back of the leading pair.
Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 2
Day 2 Cheltenham Festival Grand Annual Chases 2022
- 13:30 The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Grand Annual Chase
- 14:10 The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase
- 14:50 The Coral Cup Hurdle
- 15:30 The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase
- 16:10 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase
- 16:50 The Grand Annual Chase Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
- 17:30 The Champion Bumper
Grand Annual Chase Former Winners
| 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 Betting Offers
At bookmaker Coral, Get Money Back as a Free Bet up to £10 if your selection finishes in ANY position a length or less behind the winner.
Simply place a minimum £1 win or each-way single bet on any race at the selected meeting from 8am.
The full listings for the Coral horse racing betting offer can be found on their promotion page
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Key Terms & Conditions
This Sports Promotion is open to Coral Online, Mobile & Telephone customers aged 18+ betting in either £/€ currency and whose accounts are registered in the UK & Republic of Ireland.
To claim this Sports Promotion, place a £1 or more real money win or each way single bet on any of the selected races shown above, between 8am UK time the day of the selected race meeting up until the respective race start time.
If your horse finishes in beaten by a length or less from the winning horse*, Coral will match the win part of any win and each way single bets, up to £10 as a free bet on horse racing only. This Sports Promotion is only redeemable against your first real money Qualifying Bet per race, on the selected/named races.
