Arkle Challenge Trophy

Last updated

Arkle Challenge Trophy
ClassGrade 1
Location Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Race type Steeplechase
SponsorMy Pension Expert
Website Cheltenham
Race information
Distance1m 7f 199y (3,499 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 7 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse £200,000 (2025)
1st: £112,540
Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
2025
Owner Mr Anthony Barney.svg Owner Mrs J M Russell.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Jango BaieOnly By NightMajborough
Previous years
2024
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Noel Moran.svg Owner John Homer Racing.svg
Gaelic WarriorFound A FiftyIl Etait Temps
2023
Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Mr John P McManus star on cap.svg
El FabioloJonbonSaint Roi
2022
Owner Mr Ian Thurtle.svg Owner Mick and Molly Syndicate.svg Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg
EdwardstoneGabynakoBlue Lord
2021
Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg Owner Mr J P Romans.svg Owner Declan Landy.svg
ShishkinEldorado AllenCaptain Guinness
2020-2011
2020
Owner One For Luck Racing Syndicate.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Mr A Brooks.svg
Put The Kettle OnFakir D'OudairiesRouge Vif
2019
Owner Potensis Limited.svg Owner Bpd Ltd.svg Owner McDonagh Murphy And Nixon diamond cap.svg
Duc Des GenievresUs And ThemArticulum
2018
Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg Owner Mr Michael Buckley.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg
FootpadBrain PowerPetit Mouchoir
2017
Owner Mrs Patricia Pugh.svg Owner Mr Trevor Hemmings.svg Owner Mr C Jones.svg
AltiorCloudy DreamOrdinary World
2016
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mr B Dunn.svg
DouvanSizing JohnFox Norton
2015
Owner Edward O'Connell.svg Owner Crossed Fingers Partnership.svg Owner Mr A D Spence.svg
Un De SceauxGod's OwnJosses Hill
2014
Owner Mr R S Brookhouse.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg
Western WarhorseChampagne FeverTrifolium
2013
Owner Mr R A Bartlett.svg Owner Ms Rose Enright.svg Owner Mrs Jo Tracey.svg
SimonsigBaily GreenHis Excellency
2012
Owner Mrs Caroline Mould.svg Owner Mrs Jean R Bishop.svg Owner Mrs Diana Whateley.svg
Sprinter SacreCue CardMenorah
2011
Owner Mrs Diana Whateley.svg Owner Mr Michael Buckley.svg Owner Mr D J Sharkey.svg
Captain ChrisFinian's RainbowRealt Dubh
2010-2001
2010
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mrs T P Radford.svg Owner Mr Thomas Barr.svg
Sizing EuropeSomersbyOsana
2009
Owner Goat Racing Syndicate.svg Owner Mrs J Morgan.svg Owner Mr C G M Lloyd-Baker.svg
ForpadydeplastererKalahari KingPlanet of Sound
2008
Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg Owner Mr Ronald Brimacombe.svg Owner Mr J Hales.svg
Tidal BayKruguyrovaNoland
2007
Owner Mr Barry Winfield.svg Owner Mr Alan Peterson.svg Owner Major Christopher Hanbury.svg
My Way de SolzenFair AlongJack The Giant
2006
Owner Sir R. Ogden.svg Owner Mr David Wesley Yates.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Voy Por UstedesMonet's GardenForeman
2005
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner Mrs E K Ellis.svg Owner Mrs S Rowley-Williams.svg
ContrabandAshley BrookRiver City
2004
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner Mr Conor Clarkson.svg Owner The Stewart Family.svg
Well ChiefKicking KingLe Duc
2003
Owner Mr J Hales.svg Owner Mr Jim Lewis.svg Owner Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings.svg
AzertyuiopImpekIsio
2002
Owner Mr Brian Kearney.svg Owner The Macca and Growler Partnershi.svg Owner B C Marshall.svg
Moscow FlyerSeebaldArmaturk
2000-1991
2000
Owner The Liars Poker Partnership.svg Owner The Stewart Family.svg Owner Decoupage Partnership.svg
TiutchevCenkosDecoupage
1999
Owner E Gutner and M Krysztofiak Racing.svg Owner Mr Joe Moran.svg Owner G Piper.svg
Flagship UberallesTresor De MaiNipper Reed
1998
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner Mr P Garvey.svg Owner John Plackett.svg
ChampleveHill SocietyMandys Mantino
1997
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner Sir R. Ogden.svg Owner Stamford Bridge Partnership.svg
Or RoyalSquire SilkCelibate
1996
Owner Philip F Myerscough.svg Owner Mrs R E Hambro.svg Owner George Brookes.svg
Ventana CanyonArctic KinsmanSuper Coin
1995
Owner Mr C Jones.svg Owner David Lloyd.svg Owner Mr Jim Lewis.svg
Klairon DavisSound ManCamitrov
1994
Owner Mr Jim Lewis.svg Owner Mrs Shirley Robins.svg Owner Geoff Hubbard Racing.svg
NakirBaydon StarSoutholt
1993
Owner Mrs Michael Ennever.svg Owner Mrs Shirley Robins.svg Owner Marquesa de Moratalla.svg
TravadoWonder ManSybillin
1992
Owner M L Oberstein.svg Owner Mr Michael Buckley.svg Owner Mrs R Fifield.svg
Young PokeyTinrylandSpace Fair
1991
Owner J E H Collins.svg Owner A F Budge (equine) Limited.svg Owner P S O'Neill.svg
Remittance ManUncle ErnieRedundant Pal
1990-1988
1990
Owner Maurice Pinto.svg Owner Dr Michael Smurfit.svg Owner Mr and Mrs John Poynton.svg
ComandanteKiichiYoung Snugfit
1989
Owner M R Deeley.svg Owner Hathaway Roofing Ltd.svg Owner Mr B A Kilpatrick.svg
Waterloo BoySouthern MinstrelSabin Du Loir
1988
Owner A F Budge (equine) Limited.svg Owner Mrs G T McKey.svg Owner Mr Rory Sweet.svg
Danish FlightAbbey GlenBarnbrook 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.

Contents

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 to 2023 the race was 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):


Leading trainer since 1946 (8 wins):

Winners since 1946

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainer
1946Bright Penny6 Glen Kelly Bobby Norris
no race 1947 [a]
1948Top Cash6 Glen Kelly Bobby Norris
1949Grand Refrain5 Glen Kelly Bobby Norris
1950High Level5 Johnny Bullock Fred Rimell
1951Red Steel5 Dick Francis Frank Cundell
1952Nautical Print5 Tommy Cusack Gerry Wilson
1953Bramble Tudor5 Tim Molony Stewart Wight
1954Armorial III5 René Emery Fulke Walwyn
1955Manuscrit5 Johnny Bullock Fulke Walwyn
1956 Sir Ken 9 Tim Molony Willie Stephenson
1957Ballyatom5 Bob McCreery [b] George Beeby
1958 Fortria 6 Tom Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1959 Flame Gun 8 Fred Winter Charlie Mallon
1960Mazurka6 Ron Harrison Ron Smyth
1961Mountcashel King6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1962Prudent Barney8 Johnny East Bobby Renton
1963 Ben Stack 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1964Greektown8 Michael Scudamore Willie Stephenson
1965 Flyingbolt 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1966Arctic Sunset6 George Milburn Ken Oliver
1967Arctic Stream7 Ben Hannon Pat Rooney
1968The Hustler6 Barry Brogan Earl Jones
1969Chatham5 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell
1970 Soloning 5 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter
1971Alpheus6 Eddie Wright Tom Dreaper
1972 Pendil 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1973Denys Adventure8 Graham Thorner Tim Forster
1974Canasta Lad8 Jeff King Peter Bailey
1975Broncho II6 Colin Tinkler Tony Dickinson
1976Roaring Wind8 Reg Crank Roy Cambidge
1977Tip the Wink7 Dessie Hughes Pat Taylor
1978 Alverton 8 Graham Thorner Peter Easterby
1979 Chinrullah 7 Dessie Hughes Mick O'Toole
1980 Anaglogs Daughter 7 Tommy Carberry Bill Durkan
1981 Clayside 7 Alan Brown Peter Easterby
1982 The Brockshee 7 Tommy Carberry Arthur Moore
1983 Ryeman 6 Alan Brown Peter Easterby
1984 Bobsline 8 Frank Berry Francis Flood
1985 Boreen Prince 8 Niall Madden Andrew McNamara
1986 Oregon Trail 6 Ronnie Beggan Simon Christian
1987 Gala's Image 7 Richard Linley Mercy Rimell
1988Danish Flight9 Mark Dwyer Jimmy FitzGerald
1989 Waterloo Boy 6 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1990 Comandante 8 Peter Hobbs Josh Gifford
1991 Remittance Man 7 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson
1992 Young Pokey 7 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1993 Travado 7 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson
1994 Nakir 6 Jamie Osborne Simon Christian
1995 Klairon Davis 6 Francis Woods Arthur Moore
1996 Ventana Canyon 7 Richard Dunwoody Edward O'Grady
1997 Or Royal 6 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1998 Champleve 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 Flagship Uberalles 5 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls
2000 Tiutchev 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
no race 2001 [c]
2002 Moscow Flyer 8 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2003 Azertyuiop 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2004 Well Chief 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2005 Contraband 7 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe
2006 Voy Por Ustedes 5 Robert Thornton Alan King
2007 My Way de Solzen 7 Robert Thornton Alan King
2008 Tidal Bay 7 Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson
2009 Forpadydeplasterer 7 Barry Geraghty Tom Cooper
2010 Sizing Europe 8 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead
2011 Captain Chris 7 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2012 Sprinter Sacre 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2013 Simonsig 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2014 Western Warhorse 6 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2015 Un de Sceaux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2016 Douvan 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Altior 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2018 Footpad 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2019Duc des Genievres6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2020 Put The Kettle On 6 Aidan Coleman Henry de Bromhead
2021 Shishkin 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2022Edwardstone8Tom Cannon Alan King
2023El Fabiolo6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2024Gaelic Warrior6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2025Jango Baie6 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
  1. The 1947 edition was abandoned due to snow and frost
  2. amateur jockey
  3. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also

References

  1. "Arkle Profile".
  2. "Sporting Life sponsors the Arkle".