FIRST Eleven was installed as the early favourite for the Ebor in August after a gritty victory in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap at York.

Unlucky at Royal Ascot last season, First Eleven was sent off at 5-1 for a race in which the winner was guaranteed a place in the first ever £1 million Ebor.

His success saw Sky Bet make him their 10-1 market leader (from 14s) and, while John Gosden indicated it was a likely target, a return to Ascot is also on the cards.

First Eleven beat Fujaira Prince by a neck in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

"It would be lovely if we could have him right for the Ebor, but I don't know about the next two furlongs," said Gosden.

"I asked Frankie and he said 'if you like', which didn't really inspire me with confidence.

"That was good today, he kept fighting. He was headed, but he came back and I see no reason not to run him once at Royal Ascot and then target the Ebor as they need to be 105 to get in - you can't get in off the high 90s anymore.

"When they put on money like the Ebor, you should turn up and make a race of it."

Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe added: "The Ebor has to be the target, but his dam did win a French Guineas, so another two furlongs is not absolutely guaranteed.

"He found plenty there and was very courageous."

Andrea Atzeni, the rider of the second, was suspended for two days for using his whip in the incorrect place.

Nausha claimed a narrow victory in a thrilling climax to the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

A field of 10 fillies went to post for this recognised trial for the Investec Oaks at Epsom, with John Gosden's impressive Sandown scorer Sparkle Roll the well-backed favourite at 7-4.

I'll Have Another set the pace for a long way, but hung across the track when coming under pressure and those involved in the finish made their challenges down the centre of the track.

Roger Varian's Nausha hit the front racing inside the final furlong and was flanked by the William Haggas-trained Frankellina and Gosden's apparent second string Entitle - a half-sister to the brilliant Enable.

There was little to choose between the trio as the post loomed, but it was Nausha who gained the verdict under Andrea Atzeni, with Frankellina and Entitle dead-heating for second.

Supporters of both Frankellina and Entitle will justifiably curse their luck, with Frankellina running a huge race to finish so close after blowing the start, and Entitle stumbling inside the closing stages. Sparkle Roll, however, was disappointing.

Varian said: "I'm so pleased for her owner, Nurlan Bizakov, he's such an enthusiast, a great supporter of the game and very patient, so I'm pleased this filly has come good today.

"We had been considering the 1000 Guineas, but we didn't fancy running her in a trial over seven furlongs at Newmarket and went for a conditions race at Kempton over a mile with a view to this race instead.

"She'll be left in the (Epsom) Oaks tomorrow, we'll see how she comes out of the race and then we'll consider all the options.

"She's in the Prix Diane in France as well, which is an extended 10 furlongs, so she's got all the options.

"She's a very nice filly and I'm delighted she's won today, so we'll enjoy it."

Invincible Army ran out an emphatic winner of the Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

The James Tate-trained four-year-old had appeared much improved when making an impressive start to his campaign in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster in late March and he was a 7-2 joint-favourite stepping up to Group Two level on the Knavesmire.

PJ McDonald rode a patient race for much of the six-furlong contest as the speedy El Astronaute adopted his customary pace-setting role.

As his challenge petered out racing inside the final furlong, Invincible Army was just getting going and he powered home late on to score by an impressive two and a quarter lengths.

Major Jumbo (8-1) was best of the rest in second, with the other joint-favourite, Yafta, finishing third.

Tate said: "That's a local win. I was born in Harrogate and grew up in Tadcaster, you can't get more local than that!

"It's fantastic, he just seems to be different this year, he's even posing for photographs and is calm before the race. He really seems to know what he's here for."

The Keith Dalgleish-trained Soldier's Minute turned the Infinity Tyres Handicap into a procession.

Sent off at 20-1 under Joe Fanning, the race was over as a contest with half a furlong to run when the four-year-old burst clear of the pack.

Wentworth Falls gave chase, but he was three lengths down crossing the line.

Fanning said: "He travelled well and when I asked him to pick up, he picked up well.

"It didn't matter where I was drawn with him, it was very straightforward.

"He looked good a couple of runs back, but disappointed last time when things went against him as he was drawn out wide."

Charlie Appleby has always thought highly of Space Blues after he won on his only run at two, but the chestnut had disappointed twice already this season.

Nevertheless, he was still sent off the 5-2 favourite for the Conundrum Rowing For Christian Hobbs Gym Handicap and he defied top weight in fine style under James Doyle.

Doyle said: "I thought I was in trouble as I couldn't see too many gaps appearing, I covered every part of the track I think.

"Once he found a bit of space, he quickened up well. He's quite speedy, maybe I got it wrong with him after I won on him on his debut over a mile and half a furlong on deep ground, I thought he'd stay a bit further.

"Dropping back to seven has definitely suited him today."

Jeremy Noseda looks to have a Royal Ascot juvenile on his hands in Bomb Proof (7-1), who provided Dettori with a double in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.

Dettori said: "I asked Jeremy if he was bomb proof, and he said 'yes'.

"He didn't actually give me a great feel going to post, he was scratchy, but he was very professional in the race, he knew what to do and he won well.

"York maidens are not easy to win, but it was a case of just pushing the button. I think the Windsor Castle might be his race, stick to five furlongs."

Jedd O'Keeffe's Starcaster sprinted clear to win the closing Lindum Construction Group Handicap under Jamie Spencer to justify 7-2 favouritism.