Grand Annual Chase Preview - Cheltenham Festival

Published on: 13/03/2020

Grand Annual Chase Preview - Cheltenham Festival

March 13, 2020 16:50pm - Cheltenham

Distance: 2m 62y

Grade: (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Runners: 18

Winner: £61,897

Going: Soft

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase is the penultimate race of the Cheltenham Festival. The race has been dominated by double-figures winners over the last 14 years with 10 since 2006. This year`s renewal looks to be just as unpredictable with a host of contenders.

Last year`s winner Croco Bay is back for a fifth crack at this one but is now 13-years-old and carrying extra weight. He is unlikely to match last year`s heroics.

Prior to Croco Bay`s win, younger horses had dominated and there are plenty here to consider. Lisp cam fifth in the County Hurdle last year and has run well since. He landed a win over fences at Plumpton and put in a solid jumping performance when third at Doncaster last time out.

Gordon Elliott has two strong entries in Eclair De Beaufeu and Chosen Mate and both could be in the running here based on respectable form. Meanwhile, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Jan Maat also attracted some attention with some strong performances in the second half of last year. At 14/1, he might be one for the each-way punters to consider.

Grand Annual Chase Winners - past six years:

2014: Savello (8) - Davy Russell (Tony Martin)

2015: Next Sensation (8) - Tom Scudamore (Michael Scudamore)

2016: Solar Impulse (6) - Sam Twiston-Davies (Paul Nicholls)

2017: Rock the World (9) - Robbie Power (Jessica Harrington)

2018: Le Prezien (7) - B Geraghty (Paul Nicholls)

2019: Croco Bay (12) - Kielan Woods (B Case)

Latest Betting odds:

Chosen Mate (7/2), Greaneteen (4/1), Lisp (7/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (7/1), Paloma Blue (10/1), Us And Them (11/1), Jan Maat (14/1), Two Taffs (16/1), Gino Trail (20/1), Capeland (20/1), Great Field (25/1), Croco Bay (25/1), Theinval (33/1), Ballywood (33/1), Winter Escape (40/1), Marracudja (40/1), The Bay Birch (50/1), Mcgroarty (66/1).

By Neil Morris

Published on: 13/03/2020

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (13/03/2020 12:29:08) but are subject to change.