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.
Arkle Challenge Chase 1997 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 OR ROYAL A P McCoy Martin Pipe David Johnson 11/2
2 SQUIRE SILK Jamie Osborne Andy Turnell Sir Robert Ogden 11/2
3 CELIBATE Jamie Railton Charlie Mann Stamford Bridge Partnership 13/2
4 FLYING INSTRUCTOR Robert Bellamy Paul Webber Lady Lyell 8/1
5 LIGHTENING LADL Chris Maude J S King Richard Peterson 11/1
6 PENNDARA Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien Ire All Gold Syndicate 33/1
7 BEAKSTOWN Tommy Treacy Paddy Mullins Ire Mrs P J O'Meara 33/1
F MULLIGAN Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Lady Harris 11/10 fav
F GUINDA Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies Mrs J K Powell 66/1
  Over round 119%
This race was staged on Tuesday 11th March 1997 when Or Royal beat Squire Silk and Celibate by 1/2 length and 6 lengths