INVINCIBLE ARMY claimed his second major sprint prize in the space of six weeks as he outclassed a strong field to land the Group Two Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

The James Tate-trained four-year-old started the summer with a bang when he won the Cammidge Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the Flat season, and took his form to an even higher level as he cruised more than two lengths clear to land yesterday’s main support race on the Knavesmire.

The 7-2 joint favourite put the race to bed long before the final furlong, and is clearly progressing at a rate of knots. He finished a disappointing ninth in last year’s Commonwealth Cup, but should have much stronger claims if he returns to Ascot’s Royal meeting for a tilt at next month’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes, with Paddy Power immediately installing him as their 7-2 favourite for the race.

“I’m lucky to be getting on this horse at just the right time,” said jockey PJ McDonald. “That’s twice I’ve ridden him now, and he’s absolutely bouncing. If you look at him in the middle part of that race, he’s like a chaser – switched off, switched off – his mind is 100 per cent at the minute.

“You’ve seen from that, there’s no reason in the world now why he can’t go an be competitive in Group Ones. If we can keep him in that form for the busy months of the summer, we should have a lot of fun with him.”

Invincible Army is closely-matched with Major Jumbo, with Kevin Ryan’s sprinter having chased the winner home for the second race in succession after also finishing as runner-up at Doncaster.

The day’s opening winner, First Eleven, will be returning to the Knavesmire for August’s £1m Ebor Handicap after his victory in the Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Jorvik Stakes earned him an automatic entry for the richest handicap on the calendar.

Frankie Dettori was niggling at the son of Frankel from an early stage, but the four-year-old picked up in eye-catching fashion to edge out long-time leader Fujaira Prince.

First Eleven attracted early quotes of 10-1 for the Ebor, with John Gosden surely certain to aim him at the race rather than step him up to Group company.

The day’s most impressive winner was the well-backed Space Blues, who justified strong market support to claim the Conundrum Rowing for Christian Hobbs Gym Stakes.

The Godolphin-owned three-year-old produced a strong finish on the outside to pull comfortably clear of his rivals, and while he had been beaten at odds of 1-3 on his previous outing at Nottingham, he is clearly much better than that performance suggested.

A return to much firmer ground had a positive effect, and he is likely to take a major step up in company in the wake of yesterday’s facile win, with the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot an obvious target.

On what should prove an informative card, Bomb Proof marked himself out as a two-year-old to watch as he spread-eagled the field on his racecourse debut to land the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.

The wait for the first Yorkshire-trained winner of the new season lasted until the final race, but came to an end when Starcaster won the Lindum Construction Group Stakes.

Trained in Leyburn by Jedd O’Keefe, Starcaster ran on readily to land odds of 7-2.