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 2015 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 UN DE SCEAUX Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Ire Edward O'Connell 4/6 fav
2 GOD'S OWN Paddy Brennan Tom George Crossed Fingers Partnership 33/1
3 JOSSES HILL Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson A D Spence 12/1
4 VIBRATO VALTAT Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Axom XLiii 7/1
5 COURT MINSTREL Paul Moloney Evan Williams Mrs Janet Davies 20/1
6 SGT RECKLESS Brian Hughes Mick Channon T P Radford 20/1
7 SMASHING Jonathan Burke Henry De Bromhead Ire Ann & Alan Potts 20/1
8 CLARCAM B J Cooper Gordon Elliott Ire Gigginstown House Stud 16/1
9 THREE KINGDOMS A P McCoy John Ferguson Bloomfields 14/1
PU DUNRAVEN STORM Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mrs Karola Vann 40/1
PU SAIL BY THE SEA Tom Scudamore David Pipe R S Brookhouse 33/1
  Over round 116%
This race was staged on Tuesday 10th March 2015 when Un De Sceaux beat God's Own and Josses Hill by 6 lengths and 2 lengths