THE scarcely believable story of Sceptical, Ireland’s highest rated sprinter, continued apace as the bargain buy made it four wins on the spin in the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes with a display which has made Denis Hogan’s charge one of the standout contenders for next week’s King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ten months after being picked up for just £2,800 by owner James McAuley, Sceptical was dipping his toe into stakes company for the first time following an easy victory off a mark of 101 in a Dundalk handicap three months ago. Sceptical made a seamless transition to this more exalted level of competition.