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 2000 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 TIUTCHEV Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Liars Poker Partnership 8/1
2 CENKOS David Casey Oliver Sherwood Mrs J Stewart 10/1
3 DECOUPAGE Norman Williamson Charles Egerton Decoupage Partnership 7/4 fav
4 RATHBAWN PRINCE K A Kelly Dessie Hughes Ire O M C Sherwood 20/1
5 BELLATOR Richard Johnson Venetia Williams Peter Richardson 5/1
6 WAHIBA SANDS A P McCoy Martin Pipe Mrs H M Bridges 9/2
7 SLANEY NATIVE Paul Moloney Mrs Jessica Harrington David H Nugent 25/1
8 WAKEEL Carl Llewellyn Mark Pitman M Chavoush 33/1
9 LA BRIGANTINE Brendan Powell snr Bob Buckler R H Buckler 200/1
BD COMMANCHE COURT Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh Ire D F Desmond 16/1
F FROZEN GROOM Barry Geraghty Noel Meade Ire D P Sharkey 10/1
UR FADALKO Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls Sir Robert Ogden 12/1
  Over round 127%
This race was staged on Tuesday 14th March 2000 when Tiutchev beat Cenkos and Decoupage by 8 lengths and 8 lengths