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 1974 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CANASTA LAD Jeff King P Bailey Mrs D Hague 2/1 fav
2 DORLESA Michael Dickinson Dickinson Mr A McIndoe 4/1
3 BEN MORE S Holland Jack Hardy Mr P Harper 10/1
4 PERPOL Fran Berry F Flood Ire Mr S Sanger 9/2
5 THE SUNDANCE KID David Mould Thomson Jones Mr George Strawbridge 11/1
6 NANTAR John Francome Fred Winter Mrs J Ceballos 12/1
7 WELL OILED Ron Barry Fulke Walwyn Sir Charles Clore 13/1
8 BRAMBLESTOWN K B White Fred Rimell Miss E Dillon 25/1
9 CHURCHLANDS R R Evans Cambridge Mr C Espley 33/1
10 BLEST Vic Soane Supple Mr Robin Goodfellow 33/1
  Over round 113%

This race was staged on Wednesday 13th March 1974 when Canasta Lad beat Dorlesa and Ben More by 1/2 length and 5 lengths