Sid's Tips

This Class 4 Novice Stakes is a challenging puzzle, with all four runners flagged with a medical concern and no performance ratings provided. However, Dovecote stands out on recent form, having finished second in its last two outings, including a strong showing on Soft ground at Lingfield where it 'strongly overperformed' market expectations. While the draw in stall 1 is historically negative at Chester over 7f, the gelding's proven ability on soft ground and consistent placings make it the most compelling choice to finally get off the mark, despite the inherent risks in the race.

This Class 4 handicap looks wide open, but Something Splendid makes a compelling case. The gelding arrives on the back of a strong win at Yarmouth 12 days ago, and crucially, his trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam is operating at a red-hot 40% strike rate. Furthermore, Something Splendid boasts a perfect 1/1 record at Doncaster, suggesting a liking for this track. While stepping up in class, his recent form and the stable's excellent health give him a significant edge over rivals, many of whom have medical concerns or trainers out of form. Despite a medical flag, the combination of current form, course preference, and a red-hot trainer makes him the pick.

Lady Doyanne has been knocking on the door in recent chase starts, finishing second twice and third once in her last three outings. Her trainer, Henry De Bromhead, is operating at a respectable 17% strike rate, and the mare returns freshened after 34 days, which is often an ideal break. The application of a first-time tongue tie suggests the stable believes there's more to come, and her proven ability on similar ground conditions makes her a strong contender despite the general medical concern across the field.