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 2007 Grade 1 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MY WAY DE SOLZEN Robert Thornton Alan King Winfield, Longton, Wright, Fenton 7/2
2 FAIR ALONG Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Alan Peterson 100/30 fav
3 JACK THE GIANT Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Hanbury Syndicate 14/1
4 FAASEL Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards Jim Ennis 16/1
5 ANOTHER PROMISE Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy Geoff Hubbard Racing 25/1
6 BUENA VISTA Timmy Murphy David Pipe Matt Archer & Miss J Broadhurst 9/1
7 LENNON Paddy Brennan Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie 20/1
8 GOOD SPIRIT Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls P & Mrs G Clarke 20/1
9 TIDAL FURY Leighton Aspell J Jay Mrs Lyndsey Shaw 16/1
10 GEMINI LUCY Andrew Leigh Mrs Jessica Harrington Ire Queen's Prices Syndicate 20/1
F DON'T PUSH IT A P McCoy Jonjo O'Neill John P McManus 4/1
F TWIST MAGIC Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Fulton, Hayward, Lynch 12/1
PU VINTAGE TREASURE Conor O'Dwyer C Byrnes Ire Gigginstown House Stud 100/1
  Over round 121%
This race was staged on Tuesday 13th March 2007 when My Way De Solzen beat Fair Along and Jack the Giant by 5 lengths and 1 length