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 2009 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FORPADYDEPLASTERER Barry Geraghty Thomas Cooper Goat Racing Syndicate 8/1
2 KALAHARI KING Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy Mrs J Morgan 8/1
3 PLANET OF SOUND Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs C G M Lloyd-Baker 10/1
4 MADE IN TAIPAN Davy Russell Thomas Mullins Ire Mrs Paul Duffin 20/1
5 TARTAK Paddy Brennan Tom George R Sallet 10/1
6 GAUVAIN Noel Fehily Charlie Mann Miss Sarah A Dawson 33/1
7 CORNAS Daryl Jacob Nick Williams Gascoigne Brookes Partnership 33/1
8 I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES Christian Williams Paul Nicholls John Hales 9/1
9 FOLLOW THE PLAN John Cullen Oliver McKiernan Mrs C McKiernan 16/1
10 CALGARY BAY A P McCoy Henrietta Knight Mrs T P Radford 15/2
11 PANJO BERE Jamie Moore Gary Moore Paul Chapman, Elizabeth Kiernan 40/1
12 COOL OPERATOR Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson Alderson & Johnson 125/1
13 CHEATING CHANCE Mark Grant Andy Turnell M Tedham 150/1
14 GOLDEN SILVER Paul Townend Willie Mullins Ire Mrs Violet O'Leary 14/1
15 BRINGBACKTHEBIFF Andrew McNamara Eddie O'Grady Ire J F White 33/1
F TATENEN Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls The Stewart Family 4/1 fav
PU ORIGINAL James Davies M Rolland Walsh & Cypres 16/1
  Over round 119%
This race was staged on Tuesday 10th March 2009 when Forpadytheplasterer beat Kalahari King and Planet of Sound by a short head and 5 lengths