Arkle Challenge Trophy
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
---|---|
Race type | Steeplechase |
Sponsor | Sporting Life |
Website | Cheltenham |
Race information | |
Distance | 1m 7f 199y (3,499 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
Weight | 11 st 4 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
Purse | £131,250 (2021) 1st: £73,854 |
2021 | ||
Shishkin | Eldorado Allen | Captain Guinness |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2020 | ||
Put The Kettle On | Fakir D'Oudairies | Rouge Vif |
2019 | ||
Duc Des Genievres | Us And Them | Articulum |
2018 | ||
Footpad | Brain Power | Petit Mouchoir |
2017 | ||
Altior | Cloudy Dream | Ordinary World |
2016 | ||
Douvan | Sizing John | Fox Norton |
2015 | ||
Un De Sceaux | God's Own | Josses Hill |
2014 | ||
Western Warhorse | Champagne Fever | Trifolium |
2013 | ||
Simonsig | Baily Green | His Excellency |
2012 | ||
Sprinter Sacre | Cue Card | Menorah |
2011 | ||
Captain Chris | Finian's Rainbow | Realt Dubh |
2010-2001 | ||
---|---|---|
2010 | ||
Sizing Europe | Somersby | Osana |
2009 | ||
Forpadydeplasterer | Kalahari King | Planet of Sound |
2008 | ||
Tidal Bay | Kruguyrova | Noland |
2007 | ||
My Way de Solzen | Fair Along | Jack The Giant |
2006 | ||
Voy Por Ustedes | Monet's Garden | Foreman |
2005 | ||
Contraband | Ashley Brook | River City |
2004 | ||
Well Chief | Kicking King | Le Duc |
2003 | ||
Azertyuiop | Impek | Isio |
2002 | ||
Moscow Flyer | Seebald | Armaturk |
2000-1991 | ||
---|---|---|
2000 | ||
Tiutchev | Cenkos | Decoupage |
1999 | ||
Flagship Uberalles | Tresor De Mai | Nipper Reed |
1998 | ||
Champleve | Hill Society | Mandys Mantino |
1997 | ||
Or Royal | Squire Silk | Celibate |
1996 | ||
Ventana Canyon | Arctic Kinsman | Super Coin |
1995 | ||
Klairon Davis | Sound Man | Camitrov |
1994 | ||
Nakir | Baydon Star | Southolt |
1993 | ||
Travado | Wonder Man | Sybillin |
1992 | ||
Young Pokey | Tinryland | Space Fair |
1991 | ||
Remittance Man | Uncle Ernie | Redundant Pal |
1990-1988 | ||
---|---|---|
1990 | ||
Comandante | Kiichi | Young Snugfit |
1989 | ||
Waterloo Boy | Southern Minstrel | Sabin Du Loir |
1988 | ||
Danish Flight | Abbey Glen | Barnbrook Again |
The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, England, over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 199 yards, or 3,199 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
It is the leading minimum-distance chase for novices in the National Hunt calendar. It is the second race on the opening day of the festival.
History[]
The Arkle Challenge Trophy was introduced as a replacement for the Cotswold Chase, a previous event at the Cheltenham Festival, in 1969. Its title pays tribute to Arkle, a three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the mid-1960s.[1] The race was formerly scheduled to be run on the second day of the Festival, but it was switched to its slot on the opening day in 1980.
The first sponsor of the "Arkle" was Waterford Castle, which began supporting the event in 1991. It was backed by Guinness from 1994 to 1999, and from 2000 to 2011 it was sponsored by the Irish Independent newspaper. The Racing Post newspaper sponsored the race from 2012 to 2020. From 2021 the race is sponsored by Sporting Life.[2]
Several winners of the race have subsequently achieved victory in the most prestigious two-mile chase in the National Hunt calendar, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The most recent was Put The Kettle On, the winner of the latter event in 2021. The 1978 winner, Alverton, went on to win the following season's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In 2020, Put the Kettle On become the first Mare to win the race since Anaglogs Daughter in 1980.
Records[]
Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):
- Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2002), Forpadydeplasterer (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013)
- Ruby Walsh – Azertyuiop (2003), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018)
Leading trainer since 1946 (7 wins):
- Nicky Henderson – Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013), Altior (2017), Shishkin (2021)
Winners since 1946[]
- ^ The 1947 edition was abandoned due to snow and frost
- ^ amateur jockey
- ^ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
See also[]
References[]
- cheltenham.co.uk – Media information pack (2010).
- pedigreequery.com – Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – Cheltenham.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 56. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
External links[]
- Race Recordings [1]
- National Hunt races in Great Britain
- Cheltenham Racecourse
- National Hunt chases