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 1972 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PENDIL Richard Pitman Fred Winter Mrs C Kinney 10/11 fav
2 COLEBRIDGE V O'Brien Dreaper Ire Mrs P Burrell 5/2
3 KOBUK Mr H T McKnight jnr A O'Brien Ire Mr H McKnight 33/1
4 AVONDHU P Brogan P Chesmore Mr W Citron 20/1
5 DECIMAL CURRENCY Jeff King G Harwood Mr A Wates 18/1
6 OUZO Macer Gifford H Thomson Jones Mr A Bowman 20/1
7 EL TIGRE J Crowley P Norris Ire Mrs B Cummins 25/1
8 TARTUFFE Tommy Stack Denys Smith Mr T Macdonald 28/1
9 CHORAL WONDER Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell Mrs C Haynes 28/1
10 HURRY BACK Ron Barry C Bell Mr J Lisle 50/1
  Over round 113%

This race was staged on Wednesday 15th March 1972 when Pendil beat Colebridge and Kobuk by 10 lengths and 10 lengths