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.
Cotswold Chase 1926 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PREFACE W Speck D Harrison Mr B Warner 3/1
2 SLIEVE RUE Jack Anthony Hastings Mr W Gresson 2/1 fav
3 DRUMHIRK W Gurney R Payne Mr H Deterding 7/1
4 RED CYDER F Gurney Hartigan Mr Thompson 5/1
5 AGINCOURT E Foster F A Brown Mr Thomson 100/12
6 TALL STORY A Lefebve Alexander Mrs Alexander 100/8
7 LADY JACQUENETTA T Moreau Blair Mr Blair 100/8
8 NOBLE LAD A Gregson Whitaker Lord Nevill 100/8
9 KEROSENE J Hamey Barthropp Mr E Platt 10/1
10 HERBERT'S CHOICE J Maher F Brown Mr Thomson 100/8
F LIP SALVE A Price Harrison Mr B Mundy 100/8
  Over round 147%
This race was staged on Wednesday 10th March 1926 when Preface beat Slieve Rue and Drumhirk by 1/2 length and 6 lengths