Hogan hoping Dettori can sprinkle Royal Ascot magic on star sprinter Sceptical

The best sprinter in Ireland will now have the addition of one of the greatest jockeys of all time, as Frankie Dettori has been booked to ride Sceptical in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot next Tuesday.

Sceptical proved equally as effective on turf as he is on an artificial surface when blowing away his Woodlands Stakes rivals at Naas on Monday, a performance that ensured his place in the King's Stand line-up.

However, talented apprentice Joey Sheridan, who has ridden Sceptical on the previous two occasions, does not meet the criteria to ride in the King's Stand, and trainer Denis Hogan has turned to one of the best in the business as a replacement.

He said: “A lot of the top jockeys have been ringing throughout the past 24 hours to get the ride at Royal Ascot. To be fair to the McAuleys and Jim Gough [owners], they love Joey Sheridan and they were prepared to stick with him, but he doesn't meet the criteria and their decision has been made for them.

“It's a pity for Joey but it would have been a very big ask for a 7lb claimer in that company but he's only young and he'll have loads of days.”

Hogan added: “It's wonderful to be able to get one of the best jockeys in the world and I never thought we'd have one going to Royal Ascot that was fancied with Frankie Dettori riding. We're looking forward to it. I'm sure he'll get a good tune out of him.”

A general 5-1 chance for King's Stand glory, Sceptical, who was raised 2lb to a mark of 116 after Monday's triumph, is reported to have come out of that career-best in rude health.

Sceptical will also be handed an entry in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes later in the week, but the King’s Stand is very much the gelding’s main target of the week.

Hogan said: “He came out of Naas well and we'll look at travelling over there at the weekend. Hopefully he travels well now. He's going to be entered in the Diamond Jubilee as well but if he was at all sore after the King's Stand and if we aren't happy, he's too nice a horse to be risking. His first target is the King's Stand and we'll see what happens after that.”

Make A Challenge, another of Hogan’s bargain buys, will not make the trip to Royal Ascot, with the trainer eyeing targets in Ireland.

Hogan revealed: “Make A Challenge is going to stay at home. I entered him in the Rockingham this morning, where he'd have 10st 5lb if we do end up going down that route, but we could take 7lb off his back with Joey, so it's an option."

He added: “There are a couple of other options - a Listed race at Naas and the Greenlands as well - so hopefully we can get plenty of rain before then.”

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