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 1963 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BEN STACK Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper Ire Duchess of Westminster 13/8 fav
2 IRISH IMP G W Robinson Fulke Walwyn Miss J S Montefiore 11/2
3 ANOTHER FLASH H Beasley A Thomas Mr J Byrne 5/2
4 NORWEGIAN David Nicholson I Lewis Miss K Hanrahan 100/8
5 ONE SEVEN SEVEN Tommy Carberry D Moore Ire Mr J Herdman 20/1
6 RED THORN Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell Mrs L Brown 20/1
7 TRINITY FAIR S Hayhurst Bewicke Lord Cadogan 33/1
8 BLOW LESS Jimmy Fitzgerald Wharton Major-Gen H Alexander 100/7
9 COMMISSARY Tim Brookshaw Burchell Mr W Burchell 33/1
10 TIM FRAZER Dave Dick F Cundell Mr H Dare 33/1
11 MASTER BLANDISH Jeff King Bob Turnell Mr T Hewer 33/1
12 CHELSEA SET F Shortt P Murphy Ire Mrs P Lamb 33/1
13 SANGRE GRANDE A Biddlecombe R Price Mr P Penlington 33/1
14 RISE AND SHINE Stan Mellor Derek Ancil Mrs L Prior 20/1
15 NOBLY BORN E F Kelly P Upton Mr H Smith 33/1
16 TALL WHEAT David Mould Dale Mr F Topham 33/1
17 BORDER SPARKLE T McGinley G Robinson Mr J Wilson 33/1
  Over round 138%

This race was staged on Wednesday 13th March 1963 when Ben Stack beat Irish Imp and Another Flash by 1/2 length and 8 lengths