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 2019 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DUC DES GENIEVRES Paul Townend Willie Mullins Ire Sullivan Bloodstock 5/1
2 US AND THEM J J Slevin Joseph O'Brien Ire Burnham P & D Ltd 14/1
3 ARTICULUM David Mullins Terrence O'Brien Ire McDonagh, Murphy, Nixon 25/1
4 CLONDAW CASTLE Ciaran Gethings Tom George French, McDermott, Nelson, Syder 33/1
5 KNOCKNANUSS Jamie Moore Gary Moore Hail Sargent Evans 33/1
6 PALOMA BLUE Robbie Power Henry De Bromhead Ire C Jones 10/1
7 HARDLINE Davy Russell Gordon Elliott Ire Gigginstown House Stud 100/30 fav
8 SLATE HOUSE Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard Jones, Nicholas, Romans 66/1
F ORNUA Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Ire Phelan & Momin 14/1
PU LALOR Richard Johnson Kayley Woollacott D G Staddon 13/2
PU GLEN FORSA Jonathan Burke Mick Channon T P Radford 9/2
PU KALASHNIKOV Jack Quinlan Amy Murphy Paul Murphy 6/1
  Over round 120%
This race was staged on Tuesday 12th March 2019 when Duc Des Genievres beat Us and Them and Articulum by 13 lengths and 3 3/4 lengths