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 2008 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 TIDAL BAY Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie 6/1
2 KRUGUYROVA A P McCoy Charles Egerton Ronald Brimacombe 9/1
3 NOLAND Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls John Hales 7/4 fav
4 THYNE AGAIN Davy Russell W J Burke Simply the Best Syndicate 8/1
5 MAHOGANY BLAZE Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies Mrs Lorna Berryman 10/1
6 MOON OVER MIAMI Noel Fehily Charlie Mann Mrs A Fulton & M Lynch 14/1
7 SCOTSIRISH Davy Condon Willie Mullins Ire Double R Stables Syndicate 10/1
8 RING THE BOSS Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Alan Peterson 10/1
9 MARODIMA Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls The Johnson Family 33/1
10 ORPEN WIDE Lee Vickers Michael Chapman Andy & Bev Wright 125/1
11 LESLINGTAYLOR Dougie Costello John Quinn Mrs Marie Taylor 20/1
PU PREMIERSHIP James Davies Michael Scudamore J E & T J Wilson 400/1
PU FRENCH ACCORDION John Cullen Paul Nolan Padraig Brady 33/1
UR CLOPF Andrew McNamara Eddie O'Grady Ire Bernard Heffernan 11/1
  Over round 122%
This race was staged on Tuesday 11th March 2008 when Tidal Bay beat Kruguyrova and Noland by 13 lengths and 1 1/2 lengths