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 1988 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DANISH FLIGHT Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald A F Budge 11/2
2 ABBEY GLEN Fran Berry P Hughes Ire Mrs G T McKey 11/4 fav
3 BARNBROOK AGAIN Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Mel Davies 7/2
4 ORWELL TIMES Graham Bradley Toby Balding A G F Leather 16/1
5 SAFFRON LORD Richard Rowe Josh Gifford John Holmes 13/2
6 PRIDEAUX BOY A Webb C G Roach C G Roach 33/1
7 SOUTHERNAIR Mark Perrett John Jenkins S Powell 66/1
8 TERRYASH S J O'Neill Michael Chapman Pipe Constructors Ltd 200/1
BD ROMERHOF Ronnie Beggan P O'Connor Ire Calke Abbey Racing 200/1
F RANDOLPH PLACE Phil Tuck Gordon Richards Edinburgh Woolen Mill 4/1
PU HOW NOW Mark Pitman Mrs Jenny Pitman John Duggan 100/1
UR JIM THORPE Richard Dunwoody Gordon Richards M C Inns Ltd 20/1
  Over round 115%
This race was staged on Tuesday 15th March 1988 when Danish Flight beat Abbey Glen and Barnbrook Again by 2 lengths and 8 lengths