Chester Racecourse: preview and tips for Saturday’s seven-race card season finale

The final Flat racing meeting of the year takes place at Chester on Saturday, with a seven-race card providing the action as the season comes to a close.

Racing gets underway at 1.55pm as six runners tackle the class four novice stakes before the season rounds off at 5.20pm as 12-runners head to the start for the one mile and two furlong handicap in class four.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full meeting preview for Chester’s season finale courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest horse racing odds throughout the season.

Saturday’s card and kicks off with a class four novice stakes (1.55) with a field of six taking it on.

Burrito easily dispatched four previous winners with minimum of fuss on debut at Newmarket in June for trainers John and Thady Gosden so should have way too much class for the field heading to Chester.

Marama hails from another high-powered yard with William Haggas but hasn’t been seen since unseating its rider in a Listed Newmarket contest last November so caution is urged here but is certainly bred to stay the one mile and two furlong distance.

A field of ten are declared for race two on Saturday afternoon (2.30) and the tim Easterby-trained Marry The Night gets the nod here, hitting the frame once in three maiden starts but since being fitted with cheekpieces, took a major step forward when runner-up at Carlisle ten days ago and looks way ahead of his official rating of 62.

Of his rivals, Dr T H G is a progressive sort and was third of eight in an Epsom nursery contest last time out so can make his presence felt here.

Raneen was a hefty 260,000 Guineas purchase as a yearling and is the one to beat in race three of Chester’s card this weekend (3.05), winning on debut at Yarmouth before landing a third in a course and distance conditions stakes three weeks ago with plenty left in the tank having been hampered, so should get back to winning ways here.

Radio Star can follow the selection home, stepping up in trip off the back of a good third of seven at Lingfield last time around.

A class four handicap marks race four of the afternoon (3.40) as 13 runners will head to the start for the five furlong sprint trip.

The Tim Easterby-trained Canaria Queen hit trouble in-running when well placed at Hamilton last time out and with a bit more luck here, should have too much class for this field.

Lahab has just one win from 16 runs but still rates the main danger with improved performances at Newcastle and Newbury on his last two outings and this short trip could well work in his favour.

Vintage Clarets does not have a favourable draw in race five but he can defy that to take the win in the five furlong class three handicap (4.15) and build on a successful 2023 campaign where he won four times, while the penultimate race of the campaign (4.45) can go the way of Percy Jones, who is lurking on a handy mark having only been beaten by an improving three-year-old last time out and hasn’t been penalised for that second-placed finish.

Finally, the card and the Flat season at Chester comes to a close with a 12 runner handicap in class four, dedicated to jockey Franny Norton who retires from racing at the conclusion of the meeting (5.20).

The veteran jockey rides Qitaal in this race for trainer Charlie Johnston, a winner at Doncaster in March but didn’t see out the trip at York last time out but is back down to a favourable trip here and can give Norton the farewell he desires at his favoured venue.

Chester selections – Saturday

1.55 – Burrito

2.30 – Marry The Night

3.05 – Raneen

3.40 – Canaria Queen

4.15 – Vintage Clarets

4.45 – Percy Jones

5.20 – Qitaal