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 1955 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MANUSCRIPT J A Bullock Fulke Walwyn 10/1
2 BOB TAILED 'UN Jack Dowdeswell T H Yates 10/1
3 DEVON LOCH B Marshall Peter Cazalet 7/4 fav
4 GAME FIELD Jumbo Wilkinson Jack Fawcus 100/8
5 INSCRUTABLE T Moloney Fred Rimell 20/1
6 HALA CARR T Shone Eric Cousins 5/2
7 BON SECOUR Pat Taaffe Eddie O'Grady Ire 20/1
8 GREEN DRILL G Milburn Bewicke 10/1
9 MARSTON MAGNA J Beasty Peter Thrale 13/2
10 MAGNUS II T Cusack Pettifer 6/1
11 WHOOPEE G Slack Bobby Renton 100/7
12 ICE TRICK A C Keen Champneys 20/1
13 STORM BEACON R Cambrill Champneys 33/1
14 PARADISE STOCK M Reeves P Daly 33/1
15 LACHASSE M McCourt C Middleton 33/1
16 GOLD PACT M Lynn Toby Balding 33/1
17 FAIRPASE M Scudamore H Nicholson 33/1
18 KINGCAP D Leslie Phipps 33/1
19 FEU FOLLET R Emery de Moraville 33/1
20 NAPPERELLA J Burton Sellick 33/1
  Over round 173%

This race was staged on Thursday 10th March 1955 when Manuscript beat Bob Taile 'Un and Devon Loch by 1/2 length and 3 lengths