Arkle Challenge Chase (Cotswold Chase)
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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. |
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| Arkle Challenge Chase 1971 | Grade 1 | 2 miles | ||
| Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | ALPHEUS | E Wright | Tom Dreaper Ire | Lord Donoughmore 15/1 |
| 2 | VEUVE | Tommy Carberry | D Moore Ire | Mrs C Bellair 5/2 jt fav |
| 3 | FAIR PLAY II | John Cook | Ken Cundell | Major Dominic Wigan 10/1 |
| 4 | DADDYS BOY | P Murphy | P Norris Ire | Mr R Crossman 33/1 |
| 5 | JABEG | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell | Lt-Col W Whetherly 50/1 |
| F | BLACK MAGIC | R Dennard | Peter Cazalet | HM Queen Elizabeth II 33/1 |
| UR | EAGLES NEST | A Kavanagh | J Leigh | Mr Clifford Nicholson 5/2 jt fav |
| F | VIROY | Eddie Harty | Josh Gifford | Mr N Capon 15/2 |
| PU | CHORUS | Macer Gifford | H Thomson Jones | Lord J Crichton-Stuart 18/1 |
| F | PICK ME UP | Terry Biddlecombe | Fred Rimell | Mr B P Jenks 50/1 |
| PU | ROMANY QUEEN | Richard Evans | R Shail | Mr R Shail 7/1 |
| Over round 111% | ||||
This race was staged on Wednesday 17th March 1971 when Alpheus beat Veuve and Fair Play by 8 lengths and 8 lengths |
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