Haydock preview (14.20): Basateen looks a cut-above his rivals
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Basateen was a massive eye-catcher last time out and looks potentially a cut-above his rivals in the big 1m 2f handicap at Haydock (14.20).
The Richard Hannon trained colt had some useful form as a juvenile, shaping with bags of promise when third on debut at Newmarket before bolting up in a Doncaster maiden by eight lengths.
Basateen led two out in the latter before showing a smart change of gear to forge clear and win easing down in a good time, and then ran a cracker on his final start of 2014 when third to Dutch Connection in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York.
The son of Teofilio stayed on well to be beaten 1 1/2 lengths, and the winner has developed into a top class Group winning performer who is now rated 116.
Toocoolforschool, who finished runner-up, is also a very useful type who went on to land the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury by seven lengths.
That is very strong form and suggests that Basateen is potentially very well-treated off a mark of 104.
Basateen also comes into the contest having ran very well in a competitive 1m handicap at York when staying on strongly to finish a never nearer 5 1/2 length eighth of 18 to Birdman.
The three-year-old shaped as if needing the outing, his first for 325 days, and looks sure to come on a bundle for it.
Basateen also receives a handy weight-for-age allowance, and after just four starts has the potential to be better than a handicapper.
The David Lanigan trained Rembrandt van Rijn has a progressive profile and is likely to give the selection most to think about.
The four-year-old has struck up a good relationship with jockey George Baker, and comes into the contest on the back of a hat-trick of successes.
In the last of those at Sandown, Rembrandt Van Rijn scored with more in hand than the 1/2 length winning margin suggests and a further 6lb rise in the weights is unlikely to be enough to stop the son of Peintre Celbre making his presence felt.
