No joy for team Waley-Cohen

Robert and Sam Waley-Cohen were out of luck at Catterick with Rumbavu, who could only finish second 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 in the John Wade Skip Hire Novices' Hunters' Chase to give the Waley-Cohens a confidence boost ahead of Long Run's bid to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup next week.

It was Waley-Cohen senior's first runner as a trainer at Catterick and Gold Cup-winning 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 really get him any cover as he 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 dual-purpose grey had finished a 10-length third to subsequent 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 class a little," said Hammond.

"He might win again if the ground stays in his favour."

Bridlingtonbygones (7/2) won just his second race on his 21st start in the 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.

"That was well overdue," said McLintock.

"He hasn't won since his bumper and I didn't think I was ever going to win another race with him.

"He's been very consistent and the only thing about today is that his owner isn't here."

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."

Wade landed a nice pot at the weekend with Always Right at Kelso and had news of his stable star.

He said: "He's come out of it absolutely bouncing and he'll head for the Scottish National."

Amber Cloud rewarded punters who backed her into 12/1 from 20s in the Follow Us On Twitter At catterickraces Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Winner of a bumper for Jonjo O'Neill, she was second on her hurdling debut for Will Kinsey at Newcastle in November but had only run at Wolverhampton since.

"We ran her at Newcastle over two and a half miles but she didn't stay," said Kinsey.

"Since then we've waited for good ground because she's only small but I thought this track might be sharp enough for her as she's not very quick.

"We bought her to breed from so winning is a bonus."

John Quinn's King Fingal (10/11 favourite) landed the seller in good style for Dougie Costello.

"The ground is the key to him," said Quinn.

"He's been a bit unlucky on a couple of occasions but this is his level now, he's a plater.

"He's owned by a couple of friends so at least I've trained them a winner."