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 1949 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GRAND REFRAIN G Kelly J F Norris Lord Abergavenny 9/4 fav
2 TIBER FLIGHT P Murray Champneys 20/1
3 HARRYBRYO E Hannigan Larner 100/8
4 FLAMEL Mabbutt Hamey 20/1
5 IDLEWILD J Moloney Fulke Walwyn 11/2
PU CD Mr Nichols Nichols 100/7
PU COLLINSTOWN B Marshall Fulke Walwyn 5/1
PU TORPENHOW Grantham Kilpatrick 20/1
PU QUESTION MASTER E Walsh A Tate 20/1
F AIR BASE J Marshall Fred Rimell 20/1
F DEM CARVER E Reavey Champneys 5/1
PU VINGT-SEPT K Gilsenan Price 100/8
  Over round 121%

This race was staged on Wednesday 9th March 1949 when Grand Refrain beat Tiber Flight and Harrybryo by 6 lengths and a distance