Crossword Genius

Race to move centre of range to its top (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

danes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'range to its top' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'race to move centre' is the wordplay.
'race' becomes 'anes' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'move' becomes 'budge' (to budge is to move slightly).
'centre' indicates the central letters.
The centre of 'budge' is 'd'.
'anes' after 'd' is 'DANES'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for danes that I've seen before include "Europeans who inhabit Andes" , "Scandinavians" , "Vikings" , "Sedan (anag.)" , "Natives of, eg, Copenhagen" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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