[3] Andover's dam (sometimes referred to as the sister to Aegis) was an unnamed mare by Defence, who went on to produce Anton, a colt who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the St. James's Palace Stakes.

Andover was offered for sale as a yearling and was bought by the former prize-fighter John Gully who owned the colt in partnership with Henry Padwick (also known as Mr Howard).

Ridden by Alfred Day, he was held up in the early stages before making steady progress and turning into the straight in third place behind the 2000 Guineas winner The Hermit and the 5/2 favourite Dervish.

He held off the strong late challenge of King Tom to win by a length in a time of 2:52.0[7] After the Derby, Andover developed a "curb" or swelling of the hock but he nevertheless appeared at his local course at Stockbridge for a Triennial Stakes on 29 June.

His seven-race winning streak came to an end in the Eglington Stakes on 14 September, in which he was set to carry top weight of 131 pounds over a distance of a mile.

At the end of his racing career, Andover was bought for £1,450[13] by the leading breeder Sir Tatton Sykes and stood as a stallion at his Sledmere Stud in Yorkshire.