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 2004 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 WELL CHIEF A P McCoy Martin Pipe The Johnson Family 9/1
2 KICKING KING Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe Ire Conor Clarkson 7/2
3 LE DUC Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls Mrs J Stewart 25/1
4 JAHASH Robert Thornton Alan King J Hawkins 150/1
5 COLCA CANYON Robbie Power Mrs Jessica Harrington Ire Philip Myerscough 16/1
6 JOHN JAMES Ken Whelan J H Scott Mrs Monica Cogan 100/1
7 KELTIC BARD Noel Fehily Charlie Mann Rowland, Collins, Cox 25/1
8 CARACCIOLA Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson P J Pottinger 15/2
F TIDOUR Tom Doyle Paul Webber Mrs M Fisher 33/1
F THISTHATANDTOTHER Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls C G Roach 5/2 fav
PU PALUA Barry Fenton Emma Lavelle Mark Barrett & Partners 25/1
PU ROYALEETY Paul Moloney Ian Williams Mr & Mrs John Poynton 33/1
PU OUR ARMAGEDDON Larry McGrath Richard Guest Leslie Garrett 17/2
UR PUNTAL Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe Terry Neill 50/1
UR MISTER MCGOLDRICK Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith Richard Longley 50/1
UR CENTRAL HOUSE Paul Carberry Dessie Hughes Ire John F Kenny 11/1
  Over round 121%
This race was staged on Tuesday 16th March 2004 when Well Chief beat Kicking King and Le Duc by 1 length and 7 lengths