The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy is the second race in the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. It is open to horses aged 5 years or older and is run on the Cheltenham Old Course over a distance of 2 miles with 12 fences to be navigated.

It was known as the Cotswold Chase until 1969, when it was renamed to honour Arkle, a three time winner of the race in the 1960’s. The Arkle Challenge was sponsored by Guiness from 1994 – 1999 and since then it has been sponsored by the Irish Independent.

There are 44 runners in the 2012 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy all fighting for the winners purse – the emphasis will be on good jumping and the ability to stay out of trouble in such a large field.

2012 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Trends

-          In the last 10 years only one horse has won that had a starting price of 10/1 or longer

-          Only one horse older than 7 has even won with race (Moscow Flyer is 2002) in the last 20 years

-          French bred horses have won just under half of the last 15 races

-          21 out of the last 23 winners had come either 1st or 2nd in all their completed chase starts

-          10 out of the last 11 winners had won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 event over hurdles

2012 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Race Card

2012 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips

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Previous Winners

2007 – My Way de Solzen (A King) 7/2

2008 – Tidal Bay (J Howard Johnson) 6/1

2009 – Forpadydeplasterer (B Geraghty) 8/1

2010 – Sizing Europe (A Lynch) 6/1

2011 – Captain Chris (R Johnson) 6/1