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Classy staying hurdler Aubusson looks as though he could take high order over fences on the evidence of his debut triumph in the Douglas Family Novices' Chase at Uttoxeter.
Just a month after being beaten a nose by Thousand Stars in a Grade One hurdle at Auteuil, the Nick Williams-trained six-year-old made a successful transition to the bigger obstacles.
Always close up in the five-strong field, Aubusson (4-5 favourite) pulled clear over the last three obstacles to win by four and a half lengths from Dig Deeper under his regular rider, 5lb claimer Lizzie Kelly.
Williams said: "I was very pleased with him and impressed by the way he ploughed through the mud. He made a few jumping errors but got away with it.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race and I'll see what Jane (wife and owner) has to say as well.
"He looks a stayer and definitely needs three miles. I guess we might have to go up in grade so I think we'll be looking at the three-mile graded races."
April Dusk also made a pleasing start to his career over fences to win the Douglas Family Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Tackling the bigger obstacles after just four runs over hurdles and one point-to-point success before that, the Warren Greatrex-trained six-year-old showed he could be an exciting recruit.
Held up in the early stages as first Grove Silver and then Friendly Royal made the running, April Dusk (2-1 favourite) crept quietly into contention under Gavin Sheehan. Friendly Royal proved a game adversary but had to give best by half a length.
"He did it nicely, travelled well and jumped brilliantly on his first time over regulation fences," said Greatrex.
"He stuck to the task well and he'll want further. It was a pleasing performance. The plan was to put him over fences now. He's six years old and we were just getting experience into him over hurdles. He's always looked like being a chaser.
"I think possibly he might go to Newbury between Christmas and the New Year. I'm pretty sure there's a race for him there and the track will suit him and stepping him up in trip will help."
Baywing (7-4 favourite) shrugged off the attentions of Touch Back over the final two flights to take the Douglas Family Handicap Hurdle in tidy fashion.
After returning from an eight-month absence when successful at Carlisle four weeks ago, the Nicky Richards-trained six-year-old looked good as he came home 10 lengths clear under Brian Harding.
Though Baywing holds an entry at Bangor on Friday, Richards is likely to save him for a race at Ayr in the New Year.
"He did it well and loved the ground," said Richards.
"The owners have given him plenty of time to develop. He's a big horse and in his younger days he was a bit unlucky with one or two mishaps. I couldn't get cracking with him and it took him a little while just to grow up.
"I'm not one for running them straight out of a horse box again. He's in at Bangor on Friday, but I'd say it will be very difficult if he'll run. He'll probably go up the handicap a bit again. I'll see how he is but I don't think he'll run on Friday.
"It depends what the handicapper does, but he'll probably go to Ayr on January 2."
Richard Johnson took his tally for the campaign to 155 with a double on For Good Measure and Utility.
For Good Measure (5-1), trained by Philip Hobbs, pulled clear after the second-last flight to score by eight lengths from Akula in the SIS Handicap Hurdle.
Utility's win was even cosier, with Jonjo O'Neill's four-year-old romping home by 11 lengths on his racecourse bow in the Pirelli Blue Shift Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Chasing Johnson from a distance in the race for the jump jockeys' title is Aidan Coleman. He is on the 94 mark after enjoying an armchair ride on Tara Flow (1-6 favourite) in the TBA Mares' Maiden Hurdle.
The Venetia Williams-trained five-year-old had no trouble making amends for being beaten over the course and distance last month as she won with the minimum of fuss by 13 lengths from Jester Jet.
Philip Kirby's Transient Bay (5-2) found more for 3lb claimer Adam Nicol to hold off Dandy Duke by two and a quarter lengths in the SIS Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Nicol, however, found himself in trouble with the stewards for using his whip in the incorrect place. He was suspended for two days - December 22 and 28.
