THE news which broke yesterday that Sceptical will miss Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes in favour of Saturday’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes appears to have handed the first big spring of the week at Royal Ascot to Battaash.

Much has been made of Battaash’s record at Ascot which some critics say has been disappointing. Yet he has finished second to the brilliant Blue Point in this race in the past two years and that form should be more than good enough. He is the world’s highest rated sprinter and trainer Charlie Hills reports a clean run with him this spring.