5.05 2m. 3f. 210yds. 20 Declared. Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2 ) of £110,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €56,694.00 2nd - €26,587.00 3rd - €13,299.00 4th - €6,644.00 5th - €3,322.00 6th - €1,661.00
Formscan - Formerly useful on the Flat in France, My Lyka was narrowly denied on his stable/hurdle debut over 2m4f at Killarney last month, and switched back to the level for his handicap bow, he warrants the utmost respect for top connections. Preference, though, goes to PIED PIPER. Gordon Elliott's charge finished a staying-on second in the Cesarewitch on his last start in this sphere and, after another excellent placed effort in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival most recently, this step up in trip can see him return to winning ways off a 2lb higher mark than when finishing a luckless sixth in this race in 2022. Impressive last-time-out winners Tenerife Sunshine and Boher Road complete the shortlist in a typically wide-open affair.