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 1991 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 REMITTANCE MAN Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson J E H Collins 85/40 fav
2 UNCLE ERNIE Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald A F Budge 5/2
3 REDUNDANT PAL Conor O'Dwyer Paddy Mullins Ire P S O'Neill 16/1
4 DEVIL'S VALLEY Mark Pitman Mrs Jenny Pitman Mrs Ann Galvanoni 25/1
5 ORBIS Charlie Swan Jim Bolger Ire E J Kearns 11/1
6 MY YOUNG MAN Jamie Osborne Charlie Brooks Mrs S Towler 11/1
7 MONUMENTAL LAD Robert Bellamy Hilary Parrott T J Parrott 40/1
8 GENERAL JAMES Graham Bradley Jodh Gifford Mrs T Brown 50/1
9 FIRIONS LAW K O'Brien V Bowens Mrs M Quinn 20/1
BD BUCK WILLOW Declan Murphy Josh Gifford H J Joel 20/1
F GEOSTAR Garry Lyons J P Leigh W G Morgan 200/1
F LAST O' THE BUNCH Neil Doughty Gordon Richards G Middlebrook 11/2
PU DUKE DE VENDOME Steve Smith-Eccles Mrs D Haine Mrs Solna Thomson Jones 40/1
PU BARKISLAND Norman Williamson J A C Edwards John Veitch 40/1
  Over round 122%
This race was staged on Tuesday 12th March 1991 when Remittance Man beat Uncle Ernie and Redundant Pal by 6 lengths and 6 lengths