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 1958 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FORTRIA Tom Taaffe Dreaper Ire Mr A Craigie 7/2
2 IRISH JURIST G W Robinson J Cox Ire Mr M Radiven 2/1 fav
3 REGAL TOKEN F Shortt Magnier Ire Mr T Good 9/1
4 FABRICE Michael Scudamore F Cundell Mr H Sumner 100/6
5 QUELLE AFFAIRE Jumbo Wilkinson Jack Fawcus Mrs I Pitman 25/1
6 PLAYROOM Derek Ancil Toby Balding Mr Jock Whitney 25/1
7 BALLYCASTLE A Freeman Peter Cazalet Mrs A Hodgson 100/7
8 BARRAS BRIDGE G Milburn Bewicke Mr W Reynolds 100/7
9 SONATA LAUNDRY Dave Dick Wells Ire Mrs W Macualey 20/1
10 JOYESS R E Jenkins Spurrier Mr J Spurrier 20/1
11 JOHN GITTINS Tim Brookshaw Whiston Mr J Roberts 25/1
12 KILMEGAN G Mann Vergette Mrs J Keith 25/1
13 LE CAPITAINE II James Brennan M L Marsh Mr M L Marsh 25/1
14 BACHELOR KING M Pumfrey E Cousins Mr W P Warlow 25/1
15 THE FOSSA Mr J Leigh Lord Leigh Lord Leigh 10/1
16 ARCTIC LASS R J Hamey S Mercer Mr John Hughes 100/7
PU POVERTY WOOD Stan Mellor G R Owen Mr J McKechnie 25/1
  Over round 139%

This race was staged on Wednesday 12th March 1958 when Fortria beat Irish Jurist and Regal Token by 5 lengths and 4 lengths