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.
Arkle Challenge Chase 1970 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SOLONING Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Mrs C E Thornton 4/1
2 NEW ROMNEY Stan Mellor Ron Smyth Miss Sybil Rampton 8/1
3 SERPENTINE LAD J Crowley Bourke Ire Mrs T F Bourke 25/1
4 ARCTIC FEAST K B White Fred Rimell Mrs J Brutton 100/8
5 EAST BOUND S Barker Tom Dreaper Ire Mrs T G Wilkinson 6/4 fav
6 FORT ROSE P Jones Michael Scudamore Mr J Nesbitt Davis 20/1
7 TRENTINA Tommy Carberry D L Moore Ire Mr Raymond Guest 100/7
8 WHITE HUNTER John Bourke P Milner Mr A Pownall 50/1
9 ROMAN HOLIDAY Jeff King Bewicke Lord Chelsea 100/7
F TE FOU F Nash Bob Turnell Mrs A M Gibson 33/1
F CLARION CALL Jeremy Speid-Soote Mrs Kennard Mr A W Anstey 100/7
F KING OF PEACE G Lee Jack Hardy Mr Jack Hardy 25/1
UR DUNLIN Andy Turnell Bob Turnell Mrs C C Williams 100/7
  Over round 125%

This race was staged on Wednesday 18th March 1970 when Soloning beat New Romney and Serpentine Lad by 5 lengths and 1 1/2 lengths