Grand Annual Chase Tips 2022 – Preview, Odds and Trends (4.50pm Cheltenham Day 2)

The Grand Annual Chase is a Grade Three handicap chase run over 2 miles 62 yards on the New Course at Cheltenham.

In recent years, the race has been scheduled as the penultimate race of the Festival, on day four, but has been moved to day two to accommodate the new Mrs. Paddy Power Mares’ Chase. Two favourites have won in the last ten years, but the race has also produced winners at 66/1, 40/1, 28/1, 20/1 and 16/1 (twice) in that period.

 

Grand Annual Betting Tips

The Grand Annual is a handicap that is not necessarily won by an unexposed, improving horse as some other handicaps can be. Last year’s winner Sky Pirate had a very open campaign last year and didn’t hide anything from the handicapper, winning off a 10-year high rating of 152.

My selection BEFORE MIDNIGHT has a rating of 148 and is a very experienced chaser with 11 career starts over fences. He has course & distance form having won at the October meeting, beating Sky Pirate in the process and can go on all sorts of ground.

He has since won a competitive handicap at Ascot, was a well-beaten 4 of 4 to Shishkin in the Desert Orchid over Xmas and been beaten a length by Funambule Sivola (who has since franked that form by winning the Game Spirit at Newbury) at Doncaster.

Only 1 winner in the last 8 years has carried under 11st and that was 12yo winner Crocco Bay in 2019. I believe the Sam Thomas trained 9yo is underestimated and will be coming into the race slightly under the radar. He is overpriced to me and he has a massive chance in this.

Selection: BEFORE MIDNIGHT EW (14/1 with bet365)

 

Grand Annual Trends

Age – 9 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9.

Price – 2 of the last 12 winners have been favourites, 4/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.

Last Run – 2/12 winners won on their last run before the Grand Annual Chase, 9/12 winners had their last run within the last 90 days.

Previous Course Form – 10/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 6/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham.

Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 10 previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 10/12 winners had at least 3 previous wins over 15-17 furlongs.

Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 5 previous runs over hurdles, 10/12 winners had at least 2 previous wins over hurdles.

Previous Chase Form – 11/12 winners had at least 4 previous chase runs, 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase win.

Rating – 10/12 winners had a rating of 138 or higher.

Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs that season, 3/12 winners had at least 1 win that season.

 

Grand Annual Previous Winners

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
2009	Oh Crick	Wayne Hutchinson	Alan King
2010	Pigeon Island	Paddy Brennan	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2011	Oiseau De Nuit	S Clements	Colin Tizzard
2012	Bellvano	Paul Carberry	Nicky Henderson
2013	Alderwood	A P McCoy	Thomas Mullins
2014	Savello	Davy Russell	A J Martin
2015	Next Sensation	Tom Scudamore	Michael Scudamore
2016	Solar Impulse	Sam Twiston-Davies	Paul Nicholls
2017	Rock The World	Robbie Power	Mrs John Harrington
2018	Le Prezien	Barry Geraghty	Paul Nicholls
2019	Croco Bay	Kielan Woods	Ben Case
2020	Chosen Mate	Davy Russell	Gordon Elliott

 

Grand Annual Result 2020

1st – Chosen Mate (7/2)

2nd – Eclair De Beaufeu (13/2)

3rd – Us and Them (10/1)

4th – Greanteen (5/1)

 

Grand Annual FAQs