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 1983 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RYEMAN Alan Brown M H Easterby Mr D Slater 16/1
2 BOREEN DAW A Webber Gay Kindersley Mrs J O'Neill 33/1
3 THE TSAREVICH Ron Barry Nicky Henderson Mrs C Henty 16/1
4 STARFEN Tim Easterby M H Easterby Mr F Ballard 25/1
5 KILBRITTAIN CASTLE Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn Mr W Whitbread 8/1
6 RO'S OWEN John Francome Richard Head Mrs J Cotton 16/1
7 BRANDING IRON Robert Earnshaw M W Dickinson Mrs C Feather 13/8 fav
8 BOLD YEOMAN Richard Rowe Josh Gifford Mrs H Alwen 28/1
9 CARPENTER'S SILK Chris Grant Denys Smith Carpenter's Paints Ltd 100/1
10 BIG BRYMA A Stringer R Woodhouse Mr R Mason 33/1
11 BALLYMILES Tommy Carmody Bill Durkan Ire Mr A Durkan 25/1
PU KATHIE'S LAD Peter Scudamore Alan Jarvis Mr J Clayton 7/2
F TWINBURN Fran Berry A Redmond Ire Miss M Burns 6/1
PU SECRET BALLOT Steve Knight Andy Turnell Mr H Joel 33/1
F BOLD AGENT Niall Madden W A Stephenson Mr P Gleeson 50/1
F WINGETTS K Whyte A Jones Mr F Wingett 100/1
  Over round 133%

This race was staged on Tuesday 15th March 1983 when Ryeman beat Boreen Daw and The Tsarevich by 5 lengths and 2 lengths