Diamond in the rough: how a Royal Ascot hotpot was unearthed for just £2,800

The unadulterated magic of Sceptical's ascent to the highest echelon of the sprinting ranks has captured racing's imagination, but it's a little more layered than the glib fairytale some of us have perhaps been eager to paint it.

A casual observer might conclude that James McAuley just rocked up at Goffs UK August sale in Doncaster last year and stole off with a golden Godolphin goose for just £2,800 while nobody else was looking. You could make a case for it being sheer luck or precise design to suit your own interpretation.

Within a couple of months of joining Denis Hogan's Tipperary base, Sceptical was laying metaphorical eggs. More than €50,000 worth of them so far. Frankie Dettori then came calling for the ride at Royal Ascot, which lends a suitable sprinkle of stardust.