Basseterre primed for more Haydock success

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 05.07.2012

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Charlie Hills consistent Basseterre has a superb record at Haydock and is fancied to land the Selecta Systems Handicap at 4.20 this afternoon.

The 3-y-o made a belated winning debut at Lingfield in January and continued the upward curve when adding to that over this course and distance in May. He stepped forward again last time out at Ayr when a clear third in a warm contest, making up a lot of ground late on having been dropped out well out of his ground initially, and can get back on the scoresheet under Robert Winston.

Main danger for the £11,000 prize money comes from David Nicholl's Don't Call Me. Like so many from the stable he begun this season completely out of sorts with four poor unplaced efforts, however the 5-y-o showed he was no back number when third in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and he is clearly well treated if building on that effort.

Lord Aeryn can boast plenty of solid efforts in defeat having been hit hard by the assessor for his success at Doncaster in April 2011. It is best to ignore his latest York run on very soft ground and the return to 1m will suit with the promising claimer George Chaloner taking off a handy 7lb.

Mark Johnston's Assizes is a well-bred colt who made the perfect start in a fair 1m Newbury maiden last October. However, his efforts in handicaps this year have to go down as very tame, even allowing for a slightly better effort at Ayr 12 days ago, and he may not have trained on.

Space War would be a very interesting contender if the cash was to arrive later on from the astute Mick Easterby yard. He was a winner for John Gosden in 2010, and a creditable runner-up in a big-field Doncaster handicap (1m2f) last October. The 5-y-o has yet to fire this season, though last two runs over 7f were probably an insufficient test of stamina and he could easily bounce back from a sliding rating.

Wannabe King has been round the houses and seems to be on the downgrade at present, while Kinloch Castle has failed to build on a Southwell maiden win as a juvenile and needs a short break to have freshened him up.

At a bigger price perhaps Rakaan can outrun his odds. Jamie Osbourne's 5-y-o improved when winning at Meydan in February 2011 and needed the run on last month's return at Chester (ground also too testing) after a year off. He has a touch of class if now fully tuned up and would be a strong contender if the forecast rain stays away.

In summary, a handicap that may not be as competitive as the numbers suggest, with Basseterre boasting a very solid progressive profile he is a confident choice. At around 7-2 this morning he is worth a decent win investment.

Stephen's Wednesday Nap Hasopop 2.10 Yarmouth

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