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 1964 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GREEKTOWN Michael Scudamore W Stephenson Mr L Ensten 13/2
2 SNALGOW Johnny Lehane Bewicke Lord Cadogan 100/8
3 HIGH POWER Stan Mellor Derek Ancil Mrs L Marler 100/9
4 PRINCEFUL K White Yeomans Mr J Yeomans 33/1
5 CHOREOGRAPHER Pickford Bissill Mr B Jenks 33/1
6 GAYMOSS H Beasley Ken Cundell Mr Bernard Sunley 10/1
7 MASTER MASCUS David Nicholson Thom Mr J Bairstow 20/1
8 ANONYMOUS Tommy Carberry D Moore Ire Mr F Hillman 100/7
PU SOUDOX W Williams W Williams Mr L Garrett 33/1
PU BELLE ARTISTE Vaughan Bourke Ire Mr T Bourke 33/1
PU PRINCE GIN David Mould McSkinner Mrs F McSkinner 33/1
BD SATCHMO Palmer Toby Balding Lord Ilchester 4/1
F DRAKESTONE A Biddlecombe R Brown Mr R Brown 33/1
F WILLBOROUGH J Guest C Haynes Mr C Haynes 20/1
F THE O'MALLEY Broderick A Stephenson Mrs M Britton 100/7
F DUNKIRK W Rees Peter Cazalet Mr W Whitbread 11/4 fav
  Over round 132%

This race was staged on Friday 6th March 1964 when Greektown beat Snalgow and High Power by 15 lengths and 10 lengths