“HE stood out on breeding,” said owner James Macauley on why he bought his superstar Sceptical, all set for today’s Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Picked up for £2,800 at Goffs UK from a Godolphin draft, the four-year-old is by Exceed And Excel, whose progeny James and his brother Stephen and their uncle James Gough, have had success with before with Hathiq.

“Sceptical is straightforward and laid back and has the temperament to get the job done. It’s always hard to be confident when we own him and it’s a Group 1, but if I didn’t own him and I looked at his form, I’d defnitely think he is the horse to beat.”

Sceptical is out of a Queen Mary winner Jealous Again and trainer Denis Hogan said: “We’ll be okay, I’m confident enough he’ll handle soft ground. I can’t thank Henrietta Knight enough for helping us out by stabling the horse. Johnny Burke arranged it as Sceptical can’t be stabled at Ascot. I’m not going because of the quarantine rules but James is representing me.

“I don’t care if I do have to quarantine on my return, it will be worth it,” continued James. “When we took Kerosin over last year (to Ascot) we were treated so well we were praying that we’d go back. To be honest we could have stayed in Ireland with Sceptical and be a big fish in a small pond but the horse deserves to take his chances.

“The day after his last win, (Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes, June 8th) Frankie’s (Dettori) agent Willie Ryan rang Denis and said Frankie would really like to ride the horse. He wasn’t sure how he’d get on up against Battaash but the Diamond Jubilee is the race to go for, he felt he would win that. He knows the other horses. So here we are.

“I’t’s bitter sweet that Stephen and Denis can’t be there but it’s not practical.

“You could say it’s a riches to rags to riches again story we hope!”