Crossword Genius

Yearn to have a bash at, though it's unlikely to be successful (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

long shot

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'though it's unlikely to be successful' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'yearn to have a bash' is the wordplay.
'yearn' becomes 'long-' (synonyms).
'to have' says to put letters next to each other.
'a bash' becomes 'shot' (both can mean an attempt).
'long'+'shot'='LONG SHOT'

'at' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for long shot that I've seen before include "Poor prospect" , "A bet on outsider" , "Contestant unlikely to win" , "Something with slight chance of success" , "Very uncertain venture" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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