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This is most likely a race to follow, with chasing debutants in first and third and the other two in the frame last-time winners, and the strong-looking form is underpinned by a brisk gallop.
Largy Force cost £85,000 after beating a useful sort on her sole start in points and she shaped with promise in three starts over hurdles last season.
She always appealed as the type who would come into her own over fences, though, and she caught the eye on her debut in this sphere on her return from eight months off. Largy Force impressed with her finishing effort over an inadequate two miles and is one to look out for next time, particularly if moving up in trip.
Fasol was unable to lay a glove on the impressive winner but he did well to prove best of the rest in a race that didn't go his way.
Fasol travelled fluently towards the rear but was short of room and caught behind a weakening rival when attempting to make headway on the turn for home.
He quickened up nicely when in the clear in the straight, doing well to pass so many rivals, and ended up splitting the pair who benefited from making the running in a tactical affair. It's worth remembering that Fasol was a useful sort on the Flat and he has the ability to prove much better than his current mark over hurdles when everything clicks.
Desert Champion boasts a fine pedigree as he's a half-brother to multiple winners, most notably Queen Kindly who won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York to emulate her dam, Lady of The Desert, and grandam, Queen's Logic.
It shouldn't be long until Desert Champion is off the mark as he has offered encouragement on both starts and went like the best horse at the weights when a close-up third at Southwell.
Desert Champion travelled strongly and loomed up over a furlong out but he failed to pick up as quickly as anticipated in a race that developed into a dash in the straight and he was beaten a head and a nose. There was still some lingering greenness on only his second start and he's entitled to improve for the experience.
Pink Oxalis had shaped with promise when fourth in a mile handicap at this venue a couple of weeks ago on her first start for Stephen Thorne and she backed up that positive impression on Wednesday.
Pink Oxalis, who was dropping in trip to seven furlongs after failing to sustain her effort over a mile, travelled well at the rear and picked up strongly in the straight to finish runner-up.
She may well have pushed the winner close had her momentum not been checked a couple of furlongs out and she is threatening to come good soon.
Bust A Move didn't kick on as expected on the Flat last season after he'd posted a promising return at Doncaster, but he looked a good prospect when making a winning return at Catterick.
Bust A Move made headway on the bridle approaching the second last, was produced to lead before the final fight and then readily quickened four and a quarter lengths clear.
He isn't sure to relish a slog through the mud over winter as he looks to have plenty of speed relative to most hurdlers, but that pace could prove a big asset under the right circumstances.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Monday
FORGE VALLEY LAD
Forge Valley Lad had shaped well from his tumbling mark when third at Lingfield a couple of weeks ago on his first start in 0-55 company and he went even closer in the same grade at Wolverhampton on Monday.
Forge Valley Lad, who was stepping back up to a mile and a half, travelled fluently in rear, made headway out wide from half a mile out and kept on well in the straight to miss out by only a neck behind his market rival who was ridden more prominently and managed to secure first run.
Forge Valley Lad was running off a mark 20 lb lower than the one he last defied at Lingfield in April 2023 and he looks in good enough form to finally capitalise on that drop in the weights.
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