Waley-Cohens out of luck in Catterick raid (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Waley-Cohens out of luck in Catterick raid

12:59pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport

ROBERT and Sam WaleyCohen were out of luck at Catterick with Rumbavu who could only finish second in the John Wade Skip Hire Novices´ Hunters´ Chase to 50-1 chance Killary Bay.

Rumbavu, a winner of five point-to-points, was making his debut under Rules and was sent off the 11-8 favourite to give the WaleyCohens a confidence boost aheadofLongRun’sbidtoregain the Cheltenham Gold Cup next week.

It was Waley-Cohen senior’s first runner as a trainer at Catterick and Gold Cupwinning jockey Sam’s first ride at the Richmondshire venue.

Having travelled keen early, the seven-year-old lost his place on the home turn before staying on again to grab second but well behind the Harriet Bethell-ridden winner.

Robert Waley-Cohen is the current chairman at Cheltenham and was in a relaxed mood ahead of the Festival.

‘‘I think he needs every yard of three miles,’’ he said.

‘‘He was very keen early on, but Sam said he couldn’t reallygethimany coverashe didn’t really know what the others were going to do.

‘‘I was impressed with his jumping and I’m sure he’ll come on a lot.

‘‘That was my first runner as a trainer and owner here and Sam’s first ride as a jockey.’’ Rumbavu was sporting brown cheekpieces, which Long Run is likely to wear next week.

Waley-Cohen added: ‘‘Long Run had just got a little bit idle, as we all do, and they just help him focus and concentrate.’’ Danceintothelight made a mockery of his handicap mark on returning to a sound surface in the yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

Micky Hammond’s dualpurpose grey had finished a 10-lengththirdtosubsequent Cheltenham and Aintree winner Attaglance on his first run in a handicap off 122 and was in here off 97.

Having been bogged down in the mud of late, he bounced off the quicker surface, pinging the last under Joe Colliver to win by eight lengths.

‘‘The ground is the key to him, he was also dropped in classalittle,’’ saidHammond.

‘‘He might win again if the ground stays in his favour.’’ Bridlingtonbygones (7-2) won just his second race on his 21st start inthe catterickbridge.co.uk Novices’ Chase under Brian Hughes.

Trainer Karen McLintock had been losing faith in the eight-year-old, who had a string of placed efforts to his name.

Blazing Bull won the Dine And View At Catterick Races Novices´ Handicap Chase.

John Wade’s nine-year-old was sent off as the 15-8 jolly after a string of respectable efforts at a similar level.

His task was made much easier by the fall of Donald McCain’s Smart Act at the second fence on the final circuit and after seeing off Hollins early in the straight, he came home to win by six lengths under John Dawson.

‘‘I think the better ground suits him,’’ said Wade.

‘‘It’s nice to get a win out of him, he’s been running well.’’