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 1966 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ARCTIC SUNSET G Milburn J Oliver Mr J McNair 3/1
2 THORN GATE Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper Ire General R Mellon 7/4 fav
3 HAVAGO H Beasley A Thomas Mr C Nicholson 11/2
4 DRINNYS DOUBLE F Nash Bob Turnell Mr Paul Mellon 33/1
5 EXTRA STOUT R Coonan A Thomas Mr J Hoey 9/1
6 ENLIGHTENMENT Michael Scudamore W Stephenson Major D Hague 33/1
7 MAGNUS Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell Mr W Rimell 33/1
8 THE LAIRD Jeff King Bob Turnell Mr H Jeol 13/2
9 HARD STUFF David Mould D Whelan Mrs J Kenny 33/1
  Over round 112%

This race was staged on Wednesday 16th March 1966 when Arctic Sunset beat Thorngate and Havago by 3 lengths and 1 1/2 lengths