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 1975 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BRONCHO II Colin Tinkler A Dickinson Mr F Tyldesley 8/1
2 GOLDEN LANCER M Morris Eddie O'Grady Ire Mr B D Darrer 9/1
3 ZETA'S SON Jeff King P Bailey Mac Buckley 33/1
4 FLASHY BOY Dessie Hughes A Watson Ire Mr Archie Watson 9/4 fav
5 ISLE OF MAN Bill Smith FulkeWalwyn HM Queen Mother 11/2
6 HENRY TUFFNUT Bob Champion Miss Auriel Sinclair Mr M F Sanderson 6/1
7 VULABALOO Tommy Carberry D Moore Ire Mr J O Death 9/1
8 PENGRAIL Richard Pitman Fred Winter Mrs G T Morton 16/1
9 BLUE SHORE Ian Watkinson H Thomson Jones Mr Milton Ritzenberg 33/1
10 I'M SMART J Glover Stan Mellor Lady Chesterton 33/1
11 IREAND'S OWN B R Davies J A Edwards Mrs R Horrocks 33/1
12 JOLLY SAILOR S Holland V Lay Mr T H Shrimpton 33/1
  Over round 112%

This race was staged on Wednesday 12th March 1975 when Broncho II beat Golden Lancer and Zeta's Son by 2 lengths and 4 lengths