Racing: Aidan O'Brien sent out another possible Epsom Derby candidate as Admiralofthefleet put up an impressive display in the Group Three Dee Stakes at Chester.
Barely 24 hours on from plundering the Chester Vase with Soldier of Fortune, the Ballydoyle handler and jockey Mick Kinane were on the mark again as last year's Royal Lodge winner staked his Classic claims.
The Danehill colt certainly appeared more impressive than his stablemate a day earlier as he readily put daylight between himself and the rest of the field.
The 7-2 shot led over a furlong out and possessed much more toe than his rivals when going on in good style to see off the green 2-1 favourite Desert Dew by two lengths.
Kinane said: "I wouldn't say it was the strongest race ever run but he has given them 5lbs and a good beating. You would have to say he was more impressive but yesterday's race was a bit stronger. This was a good performance though."
O'Brien and Kinane were denied a Group-race double as the 2005 Ladbrokes St Leger winner Scorpion was outgunned by Ask in the Blue Square Ormonde Stakes.
The red-hot even-money favourite was having his first start of the year following a curtailed campaign last term and moved up stylishly in the closing stages.
But the Michael Stoute-trained Ask quickened again in the hands of Kerrin McEvoy when challenged and forged clear to collect by two lengths at odds of 5-2.
McEvoy said: "He impressed me. It's the first time I've ridden him and he is a stayer but he's not a slow stayer, that's for sure, as he picked up. Mr Stoute said to just make sure I got him settled and he liked the ground and he acted around the track too."
City Of Tribes cut down his rivals in the final furlong to provide Irish trainer Ger Lyons with his winner on the Roodee in the Edwards Homes Handicap. Eddie Ahern found himself towards the rear of the field aboard the 9-2 shot after missing the break slightly, but a gap appeared turning for home in the five-furlong dash.
The three-year-old produced a devastating burst of speed to power forward and deny the front-running Morinqua by a short head.
Dhaular Dhar made a quick reappearance after finishing down the field over the minimum trip yesterday to oblige as the 100-30 favourite in the Warwick International Handicap.
Jim Goldie's charge was stepping up to seven and a half furlongs on this occasion and found the extra distance to his benefit, with Danny Tudhope bringing him from last to first for a neck success.
Barry Hills saddled his second winner of the three-day meeting as Azeema built on her Newbury debut and justified 7-4 favouritism in the Boodles Cheshire Regiment Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
And Graham Gibbons missed his ride in the closing Manor House Stables LLP Handicap after being found to be "unfit to ride".
The race went to the Steve Drowne-ridden Stretton (11-2) who defied the renewed challenge of Augustus John to win by a neck.