TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 20th
CHELTENHAM
Wednesday, March 13th
THE JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1)
(Grade 3)
CHELTENHAM
Wednesday, March 13th
THE JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1)
(Grade 3)
TOTAL RACE VALUE GBP 125,000
Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
GBP 70,337 to the winning horse
The second to receive GBP 26,500,
the third GBP 13,262,
the fourth GBP 6,625,
the fifth GBP 3,325,
the sixth GBP 1,662,
the seventh GBP 825
and the eighth GBP 425
for five yrs old and upwards
TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG (2m 62yds)
Enter by noon, February 20th and pay GBP 155 stake
Confirm by noon, March 7th and pay GBP 470
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 11th
Weights published on..........February 27th
Penalties, after February 25th, 2024, a winner of a steeple chase 5lb
(No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb)
PLEASE NOTE: A novice horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in Steeple Chases in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code
2023. Maskada (MARE) 7-11-1 22/1 H. de Bromhead - Darragh O'Keefe RPR 155
2022. Global Citizen 10-10-6 28/1 Ben Pauling - Kielan Woods RPR 146
2021. Sky Pirate 8-11-6 14/1, Jonjo O'Neill - Nick Scholfield RPR 159
2020. Chosen Mate 7-11-4 7/2F. Gordon Elliott Davy Russell RPR 158
2019. Croco Bay. 12-10-12. 66/1 Ben Case. Kielan Woods. RPR 148
2018. Le Prezien. 7-11-8. 15/2. Paul Nicholls. Barry Geraghty. RPR 160
2017. Rock The World. 9-11-5. 10/1. Mrs JHarrington. Robbie Power RPR 156
2016. Solar Impulse. 6-11-0. 28/1 Paul Nicholls. Sam T-Davies. RPR 151
2015. Next Sensation. 8-11-2. 16/1. M. Scudamore T Scudamore. RPR 156
2014. Savello. 8-11-5. 16/1. A J Martin. Davy Russell. RPR 157
2013. Alderwood. 9-10-11. 3/1F. T. Mullins. A P McCoy. RPR 159
2023 1st OR 142, 2nd OR 140, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 149 - High 155, Low OR 139 19 ran
2022 1st OR 136, 2nd OR 155, 3rd OR 141, 4th OR 153 - High 156, Low OR 136 16 ran
2021 1st OR 152, 2nd OR 143, 3rd OR 154, 4th OR 140 - High 158, Low OR 136. 19 ran
2020 1st OR 147, 2nd OR 149, 3rd OR 148, 4th OR 150 - High 155, Low OR 140. 18 ran
-----------------maximum field reduced to 20 -----------------------------------------
2019 1st OR 139, 2nd OR 148, 3rd OR 136, 4th OR 153 - High 153, Low OR 134. 20 ran
2018 1st OR 150, 2nd OR 152, 3rd OR 149, 4th OR 141 - High 154, Low OR 139. 22 ran
2017 1st OR 147, 2nd OR 142, 3rd OR 141, 4th OR 143 - High 154, Low OR 135. 24 ran
2016 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 137, 3rd OR 146, 4th OR 150 - High 152, Low OR 137. 24 ran
2015 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 145, 3rd OR 149, 4th OR 142 - High 153, Low OR 130. 20 ran
2014 1st OR 147, 2nd OR 138, 3rd OR 142, 4th OR 142 - High 154, Low OR 136. 23 ran
--------
….2023 trend analysis for reference;
THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- None were top weight. Only one top weight made the frame.
- Featured fourth or lower on the weights list after declarations.
- Had not run more than 8 times in last 12 months.
- Had won at least twice on a racecourse described as ‘galloping’ (as per Benjy23 & Istabraq, this trend might no longer apply).
- Had run in a G1 or G2 previously.
- Had won on a left handed track.
- Last ran at least 39 days ago.
9 OF THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- Carried no more than 11st 6Ib (exception Le Prezien 11st 8Ib).
- Had not won more than 3 chases (12yo Croco Bay won 4).
- Did not win last time out, though 3 of the last 4 did finish in the first 3. 7 out of 10 did not win that season.
- Had run at least twice that season.
8 OF THE LAST 10 WINNERS;
- were not sent off Fav on the day (6 of the last 10 were 14-1 plus)
- Had run at Cheltenham before, 4 winning, 3 in a previous GA.
TRAINER TRENDS;
- Last 10 years Henderson has had 16 runners with 5 placing.
- Nicholls has done best, winning it 4 times, including twice in last 10 years.
- Ireland have won 4 of the last 10.
JOCKEY TRENDS;
- None of note, Davy Russell has won twice in last 10 years.
- Tends to go to a professional & not a claimer.
KEY TRIALS;
No reliable trials because trainers don’t want to show their hand to the assessor. In the last 6 years things have changed dramatically from winners having recent runs to lining up at the Festival with up to 3 months off (although Global Citizen ran in Feb). Look back at the last GA, though no horse has won it twice since Dulwich.
Global Citizen carried just 10st 6Ib, placed last time out, two G2 wins and only 1 Chase win. He had won 2 handicap hurdles on left handed galloping tracks and run over fences and hurdles at Cheltenham, including at the Festival.
---------
38 Early Entries in the Grand Annual at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival:
Arclight
Calico (GER)
Dancing On My Own (IRE)
Demnat (FR)
Embittered (IRE)
Enniskerry (IRE)
Fils d'Oudairies (FR)
Flanking Maneuver (IRE)
Frere d'Armes (FR)
Frero Banbou (FR)
Gemirande (FR)
Gunsight Ridge
Guy (IRE)
Hardy du Seuil (FR)
Harper's Brook (IRE)
In Excelsis Deo (FR)
Libberty Hunter
Madara (FR)
Malystic
Maskada (FR)
Master Chewy (IRE)
Mighty Tom (IRE)
My Mate Mozzie (IRE)
Path d'Oroux (FR)
Pats Choice (IRE)
Pembroke
Pinkerton (IRE)
Sa Fureur (IRE)
Saint Felicien (FR)
Saint Roi (FR)
Saint Segal (FR)
Solness (FR)
Straw Fan Jack
The Folkes Tiara (IRE)
The King of Prs (IRE)
Tommy's Oscar (IRE)
Triple Trade
Unexpected Party (FR)
Comment