Rene Mathis looks the best bet on a competitive seven-race card at Chester on Friday in the ROA Racing Post Owners Jackpot Handicap (7.55).

Richard Fahey’s eight-year-old had endured an eight-race winless run prior to victory over course and distance a fortnight ago, relishing the firmer surface and ease in grade to make all in good style.

His mark has dramatically tumbled over the past year and a bit, down 20lb to 80, which he races off here in another class four event round the Roodee.

Hopes are slightly tempered his draw (seven of 12) but if Connor Murtagh (claiming 5lb) can get out quickly he should be able to dictate from the front and repeat the winning feat before the handicapper has his say.

In the opening Envirosips Ltd Handicap (For Lady Amateur Riders) at 5.50pm, I’m backing Coviglia to overcome a poor draw in eight and land the hat-trick.

The four-year-old had some good form as a maiden and ran with huge credit when second at Ayr on handicap debut in May for new trainer Jacqueline Coward.

Coviglia subsequent pulled her way to the front at Wolverhampton but won readily when shaken up and made the most of his last chance to remain in class six company for the time-being when bolting up at Ayr three weeks ago.

Up in grade, but just 3lb in the weights, the bay gelding has an excellent chance if Joanna Mason can get a prominent position early on.

Rainbow Rebel was a good winner of the Old Newton Cup six days ago at Haydock but will find life tougher under a 6lb penalty and is worth taking on with Western Duke in the MrGreen.Com Live Casino Handicap (6.55).

A winner of a Doncaster maiden, Ralph Beckett’s charge was a winner on the all-weather at Kempton in September, springing a 25-1 shock off a mark of 87.

The four-year-old was unlucky in two starts this season at Ascot (stumbled early on) and Musselburgh (hampered badly), so can be forgiven those efforts and is now able to race off just 1lb higher than his last winning mark.

Beckett’s yard have struck form recently (25 per cent strike-rate past 14 days) while Richard Kingscote is an eye-catching book from stall two, having ridden 11 winners from 66 rides for Beckett over the past 12 months, to a level-stakes profit of £28.88.

Aasheq has a 6lb rise for landing the hat-trick at Carlisle last time and will prove hard to beat if in similar heart, but he’s well worth opposing at a short price from a poor draw in seven.

Five Helmets ran with plenty of promise on his nursery debut at Haydock last week and can deliver a winner for Tom Dascombe in the Intilery Nursery (7.25).

The juvenile ran with promise at Chester on his third start this year, and ran well at Haydock off an initial mark of 68, rattling home having blown the start and been forced to play catch-up.

Five Helmets halved in price that day (5-1 from 10s) and clearly has plenty of ability. He’s up 3lb but the step up to seven furlongs should help and he’s got no better pilot than Kingscote for assistance.

St Mary’s could take some beating in the Alma De Cuba Fillies’ Handicap (8.30) over two miles.

Andrew Balding has an excellent record at Chester with his handicappers and St Mary’s was a winner over course and distance in September last year under William Cox (rides here, claiming 5lb) in a class four event.

St Mary’s won again at Nottingham (also class four) in November and was raised to a mark of 90 as a result. She’s found life tough since in better races but is now able to drop back into 0-85 company and could prove an entirely different proposition at a track she clearly loves.