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 1987 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GALA'S IMAGE Richard Linley Mercy Rimell Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin 25/1
2 ALTEN GLAZED Chris Grant Naughton Mrs W Widdall 16/1
3 FIRST BOUT Steve Smith-Eccles Nicky Henderson Mr W Shober 11/4 fav
4 HILL'S GUARD A Stringer Colin Tinkler Mr G Shiel 25/1
5 DAN THE MILLAR Graham Bradley Mrs Monica Dickinson Mrs Maureen Haggas 11/2
6 DALBURY G Moore A Moore Mr R Smale 20/1
7 COTTAGE RUN Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Mrs M Rogers 14/1
8 RIBOBELLE Mark Perrett Martin Pipe Mr T Chandler 20/1
9 EVENING SONG P Townsley Mrs Townsley Mrs P Townsley 100/1
10 PATRICK'S FAIR R Beggan R Peacock Mr W Slater 100/1
F SOUND ARGUMENT Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Mrs B Dolan 11/1
F TICKITE BOO Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald Mr Bill O'Gorman 9/2
F KOUROS M Brennan Brennan Mr Freddie Starr 12/1
F RAISE AN ARGUMENT T Murphy Mrs B Hamilton Ire Mr J Poynton 14/1
BD WILLIAM CRUMP T Morgan Dessie Hughes Ire Mrs J Mullion 20/1
F BLUECHER R Goldstein Grissell Mr J Stringer 50/1
PU GENERAL CHANDOS J Bradburne Bradburne Mrs Sarah Bradburne 66/1
F PENNY'S DREAM Phil Tuck Cunningham Developmore Ltd 300/1
BD STRATHLINE E Buckley M Oliver Mr R Faiers 100/1
  Over round 123%
This race was staged on Tuesday 17th March 1987 when Gala's Image beat Alten Glazed and First Bout by 3/4 length and 2 lengths