The World's Astage takes the last under Whelan for Dias

Placed five times from eight previous starts this year, The World's Astage got a deserved win to her name in the second divide of the Now Racing Every Wednesday Handicap.

Down the field when last seen at Clonmel in September, the Diego Dias-trained four-year-old was returned at 6/1 chance, having touched 11s in early shows.

Given a patient ride by Ronan Whelan, the Peter Jones-owned chestnut made headway approaching the straight and got the desired gap on the outer over a furlong from home.

Soon pushed along, she edged to the front inside the final 150 yards, keeping on strongly to score by a length and a half.

Returned the 11/4 favourite, Dancing Steve had to settle for second under Adam Caffrey for Adrian McGuinness, while 40/1 outsider Beauty Bella was another half a length away in third.

"She won cosy enough," Whelan commented.

"Diego filled me full of confidence and said to ride her quietly. He said to ride her like a nice filly.

"She loved coming through horses there and she won snug enough in the end.

"She had been a bit unlucky at the starts in some of the tracks like Gowran and she has probably done well to get into a challenging position.

"It can suit here when they fan out up the straight, the way she likes to be ridden.

"She won like a filly that could maybe go on and it might do her confidence the world of good.

"I said to the guys that she won like one that could thrive. She floated off the surface."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards requested a report from Diego Dias, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of The World's Astage, placed first, as compared with its recent form. the trainer reported that The World's Astage had been given a break to freshen him up. Having considered the report the Raceday Stewards noted the explanation offered.

The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident around the two furlong mark where it appeared horses got tight on the outer. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham