Arkle Challenge Chase (Cotswold Chase)

 The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 race open to 5-year-olds and above and is run on the Old Course over 2 miles and 13 fences. The race, named in honour of the Gold Cup winner Arkle, is for novices and is traditionally run as the second race on the opening day of the Festival, but was first introduced into the Festival programme in 1969 as a replacement for the Cotswold Chase, a race which was first run at the Festival in 1923 and still exists today, but is no longer part of the Festival programme.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Arkle Challenge Chase took place on Wednesday 19th March 1969 and was won by Chatham (10/1) trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by Terry Biddlecombe, beating Straight Fort (5/1) and King Dolphin (20/1) by 2 lengths and 8 lengths.

Over the entire history of the race 28% of favourites have been successful, placing the race 12th of the 28 current races.
Over the entire history of the race a level stake bet of £10 on every favourite would have resulted in a £270 loss, placing the race 26th of the current 28 races.
Over the entire history of the race the Irish have been successful 17% of occasions, placing the race 22nd of the 28 current races.
Cotswold Chase 1959 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FLAME GUN Fred Winter C Mallon Mr Michael Sobell 7/2
2 CASHEL VIEW Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper Ire Anne, Duchess of Westminster 11/4 fav
3 FELLHOUND Dave Dick Dennistoun Mr B Smith 100/8
4 PEERLESS RECORD G Milburn Bewicke Mr P Cussins 100/7
5 BENGAL SCROLL C Finnegan B-Smith Ire Mr B-Smith 5/1
6 HALVERSTOWN J J Kenneally W Charles Mrs R Lynch 33/1
7 BE LUCKY W Bagby jnr D L Moore Ire Mrs Vic McCalmont 100/6
8 HIGHFIELD LAD H Beasley C Weld Ire Mr C Weld 6/1
9 ALFONSO D J Goose Beechener Mr R Beechener 33/1
10 RICH ICE Captain Piers Bengough Kilpatrick Captain Piers Bengough 33/1
11 NOODLES M McCourt E Taylor Mr R Brookes 33/1
12 HSB R E Jenkins G Piggott Mr G Piggott 33/1
13 NETHY BRIDGE L Major Bobby Renton Mrs E Truelove 33/1
14 POPHAM Jumbo Wilkinson Bobby Renton Mrs E Truelove 33/1
  Over round 118%

This race was staged on Tuesday 3rd March 1959 when Flame Gun beat Cashel View and Fellhound by 2 lengths and 8 lengths