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 1960 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MAZURKA R R Harrison Ron Smyth Mrs C Barnes 10/1
2 DAILY TELEGRAPH Pat Taaffe Thursby Ire Mrs J H Thursby 7/1
3 ROCK HOUSE BRIDGE Mr A Biddlecombe Doherty Mrs D T Surman 11/2
4 MAGICAL APPROACH Matt Bachelor Wight Mr C Kilne 33/1
5 CUSACK W Robinson McCalmont Ire Mrs V McCalmont 20/1
6 HARRINGTON M McCourt S Palmer Mrs V Godber 25/1
7 FRENCHMAN'S COVE D Leslie Thomson Jones Mr S Joel 25/1
8 DAGMAR GITTELL Jumbo Wilkinson Bobby Renton Mrs L Brotherton 25/1
9 KNIGHTSWAY Mr S Rooney R C Price Mr C Price 33/1
10 LE PETIT ROI A Freeman Peter Cazalet Mr R Wilkins 100/7
11 CLOUDY RED R Hamey Yeomans Mr J Yeomans 33/1
12 PEACEFUL ABBESS E F Keith Dening Mrs J Dening 33/1
13 WHITE BEAUTY David Nicholson Payne-Gallwey Lord Digby 33/1
14 POPHAM L Major Bobby Renton Mrs E Truelove 33/1
15 FALLODEN G Milburn Bewicke Mr G Moore 33/1
16 WAYWARD DAMSEL Michael Scudamore Ancil Mrs W Archdale 33/1
17 ARCHER P Pickford Maxwell Mr A Watt 33/1
BD TRUE COTTAGE H East Neville Crump Major P Wilkinson 33/1
BD MOONLIT BAY Paddy Farrell Laidler Mr C Lewis 33/1
F RED MARTIN J Dowling Shaw Mr B Shaw 33/1
F TEWT A Keen Spann Lady Ashcombe 33/1
F ATOMIC SPRAY Mr W Reed Reed Mr W Reed 33/1
F RING-MONEY W Rees Turnell Mrs John Rogerson 100/8
F QUICK APPROACH Johnny Lehane Fred Rimell Miss M Lynn-Taylor 7/1
F DUNNOCK H Beasley Good Ire Mr T Good 100/30 fav
  Over round 147%

This race was staged on Tuesday 8th March 1960 when Mazurka beat Daily Telegraph and Rock House Bridge by a neck and 1 length