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 1934 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DELAPAIX W Kidney Beeby Mr J B Snow 8/1
2 DUSKY CHIEF J Mason Beeby Mr V H Smith 8/1
3 HEAVY G Wilson Earl Captain L Montagu 7/1
4 SANCTUM R Burford jnr Ivor Anthony Sir Harold Werner 10/1
5 RIGHT FORLORN Mr W Bisssill Hincks Mr H T Hincks 20/1
6 ST TEWDRIC J Moloney Beeby Captain C A Cartwright 4/1
7 BLAZE W Parvin Nugent Sir E Wills 100/8
8 MR WIG A Turnell Gordon Captain N Newton 20/1
9 DOUBLE CROSSED D Morgan Jack Anthony Mr J H Whitney 11/4 fav
10 GENERAL CRACK J Hamey G Wilson Major A C Maxwell 9/2
11 DAVID'S GAIN C Rhodes T R Leader Major C Moss 100/8
12 CROSS BARGAIN G Hardy Blair Mrs M Stephens 20/1
13 SCRAMBLED Mr J Kirton Lindsay Colonel M Lindsay 20/1
  Over round 141%

This race was staged on Wednesday 7th March 1934 when Delapaix beat Dusky Chief and Heavy by 5 lengths and a neck