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 2005 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CONTRABAND Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe The Johnson Family 7/1
2 ASHLEY BROOK Paddy Brennan Kevin Bishop Mrs E K Ellis 20/1
3 RIVER CITY Tom Doyle Noel Chance Mrs S Rowley-Williams 10/1
4 WATSON LAKE Paul Carberry Noel Meade John Corr 17/2
5 MY WILL Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Stewart Family 12/1
6 MARIAH ROLLINS David Casey P A Fahy Gone West Syndicate 14/1
7 WAR OF ATTRITION Conor O'Dwyer Mouse Morris Ire Gigginstown House Stud 11/4 fav
8 MADE IN JAPAN Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Terry Evans 16/1
9 NED KELLY Davy Russell Eddie O'Grady Ire Mrs John Magnier 12/1
10 ULAAN BAATAR Barry Geraghty Mrs Jessica Harrington J P O'Flaherty 12/1
11 SIR OJ Mick Fitzgerald Noel Meade Ire Brian Keenan 25/1
12 MONDUL Seamus Durack Milton Harris Partners in Crime 100/1
13 TOWN CRIER Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith Trevor Hemmings 50/1
14 MAMBO DES MOTTES Alan O'Keeffe Venetia Williams Nicholls, Robbins, Nash 100/1
15 THE LAST CAST Tom Scudamore Hughie Morrison D P Barrie 66/1
16 STEEL BAND G T Hutchinson Paul Roche Irish World Partners Syndicate 66/1
17 SUPREME DEVELOPER Brian Harding Ferdy Murphy Mrs N A Durkan 50/1
PU LIMERICK BOY Sam Thomas Venetia Williams Favourites Racing 20/1
UR KADOUNT Robert Thornton Alan King J M Turner 20/1
  Over round 122%
This race was staged on Tuesday 15th March 2005 when Contraband beat Ashley Brook and River City by 1 length and 4 lengths