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 1986 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 OREGON TRAIL Ronnie Beggan Simon Christian Mr W Ponsonby 14/1
2 CHARCOAL WALLY Brendan Powell Ron Hodges Mr J Mursell 11/1
3 DESERT ORCHID Colin Brown David Elsworth Mr Richard Burridge 11/2
4 RIVERS EDGE A Stringer Denys Smith Mr D Knights 66/1
5 BERLIN Dermor Browne Nick Gaselee Mr N Mills 11/4 fav
6 ALLTEN GLAZED Graham Bradley Muriel Naughton Mrs Widdall 20/1
7 BARTRES T Morgan D Hughes Ire Mr J Purfield 11/1
8 BROAD BEAM J Bryan Mrs Mercy Rimell Mr John Jennings 20/1
9 FRENCH UNION Peter Scudamore David Nicholson Mrs C Smith 33/1
PU KING JO Graham McCourt Mrs Mercy Rimell D Timothy Ltd 66/1
F SILVER WIND Hywel Davies Mrs Mercy Rimell Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin 40/1
PU RHYTHMIC PASTIMES Jonjo O'Neill John Jenkins Mr P Byrne 16/1
F FOR AUCTION K Morgan Cunningham Ire Mr F Heaslip 11/2
F MUSIC BE MAGIC Neal Doughty Gordon Richards Mr N Mason 9/2
  Over round 121%

This race was staged on Tuesday 11th March 1986 when Oregon Trail beat Charcoal Wally and Desert Orchid by 3/4 length and 8 lengths