Royal Ascot now on the agenda for Run Ran Run

A head, a head and a neck separated the first four home in the five-furlong Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Premier Handicap, with Run Ran Run just coming out on top.

Successful on his third start in April, the Fozzy Stack-trained victor since finished sixth of 10 when tried in handicap company for the first time at Naas.

Sent off an easy-to-back 5/1 chance (from 7/2) this evening, the No Nay Never colt was settled in mid-division by Andrew Slattery, taking closer order on the inner approaching the furlong pole.

Soon ridden, he headed the front-running Maria Barnwell (9/2jfav) in the final strides, with Cash Or Crypto (9/1 from 14s) close-up in third.

The other joint-favourite was Silmaniya and she finished seventh.

"He could go for the three-year-old five-furlong handicap (Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes) at Royal Ascot on the Friday," Stack said of the Cayton Park Stud owned chestnut.

"It would suit him as needs to get there late and presumably there will be plenty of pace on.

"He needs a bit of a whack to get into it but not too much that it compromises his chances.

"He doesn't kill himself when he gets there and will never win too far.

"We won this with Son Of Rest (in 2017, went on to win the Ayr Gold Cup the following year) and if he turns out winning what he did we'll be alright!"

STEWARDS REPORTS

C. Stone-Walsh, rider of Apache Outlaw trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was carried left at the one and a half furlong mark. Having reviewed the recording of the incident and considered the matter the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.

A.J. Slattery, rider of Run Ran Run, trained by J.A.Stack, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left in the final furlong.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee