led, ridden approaching last, headed when no extra towards finish
tracked leader, hit 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish
in rear, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, lost place from 4 out, never dangerous
Only two really count here and this race should be at the mercy of ABBEYBRANEY who can score from the only serious danger The Hollinwell. The promising gelding returned from an absence to take third in a much better race than this last time and, as a horse who only narrowly failed to land a Grade One chase a couple of years ago behind Notre Pere, a novices' chase around Hexham should be something of a formality. The horse acts with cut, stays this far and should be fit from that spin last time and therefore is difficult to oppose in this company. The Hollinwell looks promising too but has to give 6lbs to our selection and surely won't be up to the task. Ferdy Murphy's gelding has time on his side and scored over course and distance last time but that race looks nothing special and this horse's form remains well below that of the likely favourite and so he looks booked for second place. The other three horses have no real chance of winning unless this becomes incident packed, with Indy Mood rated some four stones or so lower than our selection, but best of them might be Seeking Power who is at least unexposed and could improve on previous form. A two horse race on paper and a great chance for Abbeybraney to gain a deserved first chasing success.
The Hollinwell 3-1 (10-12) With leader, driven between last 2, stayed on to lead before last, ridden clear flat, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov stks (3) gs in Nov beating Leac An Scail (10-9) by 3l, 7 ran.
Abbeybraney (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) With leader, led 3rd, mistake 5th, hit and headed 4 out, soon outpaced, 3rd and no impression when not fluent last, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-2) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Indy Mood 9-1 (11-4) Held up, outpaced 13th, soon struggling, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 38l behind Its Teescomponents (11-3) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Seeking Power (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up, pushed along 6th, weakened next, pulled up 4 out, 5th of 12, 45l behind Wymott (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Chief Lady Olwyn 200-1 (10-8) In rear, hit 4th, soon behind tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by April San (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (5) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
