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 2024 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GAELIC WARRIOR Paul Townend Willie Mullins Ire Mrs Susannah Ricci 2/1 fav
2 FOUND A FIFTY Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott Ire Bective Stud 13/2
3 IL ETAIT TEMPS Danny Mullins Willie Mullins Ire Hollywood Racing et al 7/2
4 MATATA Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Simon Munir, Isaac Souede 22/1
5 HUNTERS YARN Daryl Jacob Willie Mullins Ire Simon Munir, Isaac Souede 15/2
6 MY MATE MOZZIE Keith Donoghue Gavin Cromwell Ire Alymer Stud 25/1
7 JPR ONE Brendan Powell Joe Tizzard Mr J P Romans 16/1
8 QUILIXIOS Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Cheveley Park Stud 11/2
F AUTHORISED SPEED David Noonan Gary Moore Gallagher Bloodstock 100/1
F MASTER CHEWY Tom Bellamy Nigel Twiston-Davies Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd 22/1
  Over round 116%
This race was staged on Tuesday 12th March 2024 when Gaelic Warrior beat Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps by 8 1/2 lengths and 4 3/4 lengths