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 1946 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BRIGHT PENNY G Kelly Norris 5/1
2 TOWER KNOWLE H Nicholson Reg Hobbs 11/2
3 BLACK BRIDGE P Murray J Scott 33/1
4 NYLON W Denson G Wilson 33/1
5 WHITEGATE Captain M Bruce G Wilson 33/1
6 SOUTHERN CROSS P Conlon J Hall 100/6
7 ACTUALLY J Vowles Larkin 33/1
8 ROMAN CONSUL D Ruttle Keith Piggott 33/1
9 ANOTHER VICTOR K Gilsenan Larkin 20/1
10 MALAPROP J L Hyde J Hall 33/1
11 SHINING FUGIT B O'Neill G Wilson 33/1
12 DOG WATCH Mr J Salmon Salmon 33/1
13 SUNROS D L Moore Moore Ire 4/5 fav
14 TOMMY TRADDLES B Marshall Forwood 20/1
15 NOBLE TARE W Redmond W Smith 100/6
  Over round 132%

This race was staged on Wednesday 13th March 1946 when Bright Penny beat Tower Knowle and Black Bridge by 1 1/2 lengths and 3 lengths