ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY HISTORY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS

The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 novices' 'chase for five-year-olds upwards. It is run over a distance of 2 miles on Cheltenham's Old Course. It was given its present name in 1969 to honour the legendary Arkle, three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It has proved an excellent Cheltenham statistics pointer to the Queen Mother Champion 'Chase, four winners subsequently winning five 2m Championships since 1999.

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2008 TIDAL BAY (Jockey: Denis O'Regan Trainer: Howard Johnson)

Tidal Bay (6/1 in the Cheltenham betting) raced prominently, led at the second-last and drew clear for an impressive 13l victory, which was value for 20l+. Charlie Egerton's Kruguyrova made the running, but was caught at the second-last and soon outpaced. However, he kept on gamely to regain second on the run-in from Paul Nicholls' Cheltenham betting favourite Noland.

2007 MY WAY DE SOLZEN (Jockey: Robert Thornton Trainer: Alan King)

My Way De Solzen, winner of the World Hurdle at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival, was driven clear at the last, staying on strongly for an impressive 5l victory over Philip Hobbs 100/30 Cheltenham betting favourite, Fair Along. Nick Henderson's Jack the Giant ran well in third, making the running until the second-last and only losing second on the run-in.

2006 VOY POR USTEDES (Jockey: Robert Thornton Trainer: Alan King)

Nicky Richards' Monet´s Garden made the running until caught between the last two by Voy Por Ustedes (15/2 in the Cheltenham betting), keeping on well but unable to make an impression on the winner close home, beaten 1¼l. French raider, Foreman, stayed on to take third at the last. Voy Por Ustedes won the Queen Mother Champion 'Chase in 2007.

2005 CONTRABAND (Jockey: Timmy Murphy, Trainer: Martin Pipe)

A second consecutive win in the race for trainer Martin Pipe, with Timmy Murphy driving out Contraband (7/1 in the Cheltenham betting) for a 1l success over Kevin Bishop's Ashley Brook, who lost all chance with a blunder at the last. Noel Chance's River City was third, 4l further back.

2004 WELL CHIEF (Jockey: Tony McCoy, Trainer: Martin Pipe) 1l, 7l

Well Chief got home under a typical McCoy drive to deny Kicking King by a length, with Paul Nicholls' Le Duc 7l back in third. Some interesting Cheltenham statistics are associated with this race. Winner Well Chief was second in the Triumph Hurdle at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival, while Kicking King was runner-up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Significantly, he went on to win the Gold Cup at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival. Surprise 2008 Racing Post Plate winner, Mr. McGoldrick, led three out before weakening and falling at the last.

2003 AZERTYUIOP (Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Paul Nicholls)

The 2003 Cheltenham Festival saw a comfortable 11l victory for the 5/4 favourite in the Cheltenham betting. Henrietta Knight's Impek ran on well, catching Nick Henderson's Isio for second on the run-in. From a Cheltenham statistics perspective, Azertyuiop won the 2004 Queen Mother Champion 'Chase.

2002 MOSCOW FLYER (Jockey: Barry Geraghty Trainer: Jessica Harrington)

Barry Geraghty drove Moscow Flyer (11/2 in the Cheltenham betting) clear on the run-in for a ready 4l success over Martin-Pipe trained favourite Seebald, with Paul Nicholls' Armaturk a distant third. Significant in Cheltenham statistics is the dual success of Moscow Flyer in the Queen Mother Champion 'Chase at the Cheltenham Festivals of 2003 and 2005.

2001 Cheltenham Festival abandoned – foot and mouth epidemic

2000 TIUTCHEV (Jockey: Mick Fitzgerald, Trainer: Nick Henderson)

2000 saw success by the recently retired Mick Fitzgerald, driving Tiutchev clear approaching the last to defeat Oliver Sherwood's Cenkos and Charlie Egerton's Decoupage (7/4 favourite in the Cheltenham betting), by 8l and the same.

1999 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (Jockey: Joe Tizzard, Trainer: Paul Nicholls)

The 1999 Cheltenham Festival saw Paul Nicholls' Flagship Uberalles driven out by Joe Tizzard for a 2½l success over Martin Pipe's Tresor De Mai, ridden by Richard Dunwoody. Rod Simpson's Nipper Reed was 14l back in third. Flagship Uberalles subsequently won the Queen Mother Champion 'Chase in 2002.