tracked leader, hit 8th, challenged after 2 out, led before last, kept on well
held up in touch, headway 3 out, weakened before 2 out
in rear, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, pushed along and one pace before last
held up in rear, jumped slow 1st, headway before 9th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along after 2 out, kept on to snatch 2nd close home
led, headed before and hit last, no extra and lost 2nd place close home
A winner twice over fences last year, Nodforms Violet appears to be having a confidence-booster after falling again on his reappearance at Perth and, though he's conceding weight all round, we're going to stick with WOLF SHIELD. George Moore's charge is finally fulfilling the promise he showed in bumpers and can follow up his Newcastle victory over this slightly longer trip. Brae On should improve on his third at Ayr but Almond Court is one-paced, though was only beaten half-a-length over fences here last time. Loose Preformer won a couple of novice chases for Nicky Henderson last season but it's been downhill since.
Wolf Shield (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, led briefly 5th, led approaching 4 out, ridden after next, kept on, won at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Apr beating Jewel In The Sun (10-8) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Ballyhoulihan (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, toon keen hold, headway halfway, lost place over 2f out, 7th of 14, 23l behind Oscar Fortune (11-4) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Brae On (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Led, soon clear until jumped slow 1st, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, headed 7th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 24l behind Dreams Of Milan (11-10) at Ayr 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Loose Preformer (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Always behind, lost touch and pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Same Difference (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Master Bud 33-1 (10-5) Held up behind, headway 2 out, ridden before last in 4th, never dangerous, 5th of 8, well behind Powerful Ambition (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent when fell 7th, in a race won by Fiddlers Reel (10-5) at Perth 3m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Almond Court (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led until 4th, led next, led 5th, headed after 6th, led again 10th, headed towards finish, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Pyjama Game (10-11) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
