Well-backed As It Was now two from three The well-backed As It Was made it two wins from three starts, as she took the Navan Racecourse Nursery Handicap. Successful on debut over the course and distance last month, the daughter of Acclamation since finished down the field in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas. Fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time this afternoon, the Andy Oliver trained victor came in for plenty of market support and went off a 10/3 chance from early shows of 13/2. Settled towards rear on the inner by Wayne Lordan and last from the two-furlong pole, she was soon switched to the outer. Ridden in fifth over a furlong from home, she quickly came with a power-packed run, sweeping to the front inside the final 50 yards, going on to win by a length in the colours of Oliver's wife Sarah. .Thunderbear (3/1jf), who attempted to make all, had to settle for second under Ronan Whelan for Jack Davison, while Midnight Toker (3/1jf) was another length away in third. "She won here first time out so she knows the track," Oliver said. "The ground had gone a bit the last day, it was yielding to soft, which could have been something to do with it. She also did a bit too much early on and it just didn't work that day. "Wayne gave her a super ride and just let her find her feet. She came home very well. "There is a nursery here next week and she's in the sales race at the Curragh. We'll have a think about whether we can do both or wait for the Tattersalls Sales race (on September 11th). "Looking at that you would say she could stay further ridden that way on that ground." STEWARDS REPORT * The Stewards informed Joseph Anthony Murray, trainer, that Master Garvey (who was withdrawn at the start), would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
