Grand Annual Chase Odds 2023
Nick Scholfield (left) aboard Sky Pirate on their way to winning the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Another fiendishly tricky handicap to solve at Cheltenham, where 28/1 Global Citizen came out on top for UK trainer Ben Pauling in 2022. Trainer JP McManus has won the race with Le Prezien, Alderwood and Bellvano in the last ten years and could make it into the winners’ enclosure this year with either Dinoblue or Andy Dufresne. He also owns an outsider in A Wave Of The Sea.
Third Time Lucki returned to form when winning at Sandown recently, and he looks well-weighted still, at around 10/1. The favourites do not have an excellent record in this race, having won only two of the last twelve renewals, and it could be worth looking at one of the bigger-priced runners to make the frame in a big field.
Latest Grand Annual Chase odds *
*Best prices correct at time of writing
Final Orders 5/1
Dinoblue 5/1
Andy Dufresne 11/2
Third Time Lucki 10/1
Coeur Sublime 11/1
Elixir De Nutz 11/1
Dads Lad 11/1
Thyme White 14/1
Global Citizen 14/1
Epson Du Houx 18/1
Midnight Run 18/1
Before Midnight 18/1
The Last Day 18/1
Maskada 20/1
Sizing Pottsie 20/1
Call Me Lyreen 22/1
Dancing On My Own 28/1
Battleoverdoyen 28/1
Malystic 33/1
A Wave Of The Sea 50/1
Grand Annual Chase Odds and Entries 2023
Final Orders has been strong in the betting in his bid to extend the winning run to six. It is very rare for a horse to win seven in a row when contesting handicaps, but he could still be worth considering for a yard who are no strangers to Festival success.
The JP McManus pair of Dinoblue and Andy Dufresne are hard to split in the betting but have highly different profiles coming into the race. The mare Dinoblue has only had three runs over fences, and although she lacks experience, she could be well weighted now moving into handicaps. On the other hand, Andy Dufresne ran well when third in this race last season and all roads this season were aimed at having him back here for another effort.
Ben Pauling won the race with Global Citizen last season, and he returns in an attempt to be the first horse since 1976 to win back-to-back renewals of the race. Coeur Sublime is at the top of the weights due to usually plying his trade in Graded company. He was well beaten as a novice in the Arkle at the Festival last season but finished second in a Triumph Hurdle in 2019. This will be his first run in a handicap company, and he is not without a chance despite having to give weight away to most of his rivals.
This year’s renewal of the Grand Annual looks as wide open as ever, with progressive horses taking on those who have experienced the hustle and bustle of Cheltenham Festival races. It promises to be another intriguing puzzle to solve.
Betting on the Grand Annual Chase
The Grand Annual Chase is one of the most competitive handicaps at the Cheltenham. Notable past winners include dual Champion Chaser Pearlyman (1986) and Champion Chase and King George VI Chase winner Edredon Bleu (1998).
There have only been two winning favourites in the Grand Annual Chase betting in the past twelve seasons with Alderwood (2013) and Chosen Mate (2020). There have been plenty of shock results with an average winning SP of over 20-1 during that period. The longest priced winner was 66-1 chance Croco Bay in 2019 while Oiseau De Nuit returned at 40-1 in 2011.
Any runners from the Paul Nicholls stable are worth a second look if you are having a bet on the Grand Annual Chase. He has won it on a record four occasions; St Pirran (2004), Andreas (2007), Solar Impulse (2016) and Le Prezien (2018).
The ante-post Cheltenham betting on the Grand Annual Chase can fluctuate wildly with a huge list of early entries. The connections of many fancied runners can face an anxious race to see if they make the cut so it is definitely a race on which to take the “non-runner – no bet” concession. Bookmakers also offer enhanced each-way terms on the Grand Annual, sometimes paying out on fifth or even sixth place.
Grand Annual Chase News
JP McManus looks to hold a strong hand in this race as he owns Andy Dufresne and Dinoblue, who are close to the top of the market. The former has looked out of form this season but finished third in the race last year and could be primed for a big run.
Dinoblue is lightly raced after only three runs over fences and is a free-going mare – she could be a joy to watch in front. Final Orders is a horse who arrives at the Festival in excellent form, having won his last five starts. He is progressing rapidly through the ranks and may not have stopped improving.
In what is expected to be a frenetically run race in a big field, it can favour front runners who can get loose on the lead.