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 1952 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 NAUTICAL POINT T Cussack Ger Wilson Lt-Colonel J F Harrison 6/1
2 RIVER HEAD G Kelly Thrale Captain B Thorpe 7/1
3 ALLANSPIT Jack Dowdeswell R Wilson Mrs K Birch 20/1
4 KILCULLEN BRIDGE B Marshall K Cundell Captain C A Hall-Hall 8/1
5 TOP PRINCE Fred Winter A Smyth Mr J Hylton 10/1
6 BALLYCLOUGH E Mumford Furlong Mrs Noel Furlong 20/1
7 BOISSON D Leslie Delaney Lt-Colonel A E Impey 100/8
8 RED MEAD Dick Francis Fred Rimell Mr F S Jordison 11/2 fav
9 WILLIE HAYES R J Hamey Ivor Anthony Mr J W Thwaites 20/1
10 SNOWDEN Dave Dick Fulke Walwyn Miss Dorothy Paget 8/1
11 DURANCY A Mullins Christie Captain H L Christie 20/1
12 ROYAL JUPITER F O'Connor Champneys Mr A E Kirk 20/1
13 DELMAN E Reavey Hanbury Mr P Porter 20/1
14 GAY FLAG R Morrow Kilpatrick Mr W E Haynes 100/6
15 BRIDAL MARCH T Moloney Toby Balding Lord Stavordale 10/1
  Over round 125%

This race was staged on Wednesday 5th March 1952 when Nautical Point beat River Head and Allenspit by 3 lengths and 4 lengths