Irish eyes could be smiling at Ayr
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 9 Feb 2026
It could be a day for the Irish raiders at Ayr and the name Willie Mullins on the racecard requires maximum attention with Goulmichette in the Watch On Racing TV Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.
A €170,000 purchase after easily winning a Quakerstown point-to-point last April, owner Nick Sutton decided to keep the daughter of No Risk At All in Ireland and assigned her to the perennial Irish champion and reigning British champion trainer.
The owner’s son Ben will take the reins in a race where Mullins’ regular foe at home Gordon Elliott could present the stiffest opposition in the form of Poetic Twist, but a recreation of that sole appearance between the flags would make Goulmichette tough to oppose.
Elliott may have to settle for a minor role in the finale, but could get on the scoresheet earlier on the card with Big Stage in the 100% Racing TV Profits Back To Racing Handicap Chase.
First prize in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle could also cross the Irish sea with Noel Kelly’s Apache Tribe hard to resist on his hurdles bow after a commanding 16-length win in a Listowel bumper in September.
On the all-weather at Newcastle, Karl Burke’s Sweet Princess could put her experience to good use dropping back to a mile in the Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Novice Stakes.
Third over just shy of a mile and a quarter at Wolverhampton on debut, the daughter of Sea The Stars out of a Canadian Grade One winner shaped with promise before fading in the latter stages and is well worth keeping a close eye on in this trappy three-runner event against two debutants.
In-form course regular Chris’s Mate also appeals at Gosforth Park in the concluding Daily Profit Boosts At betmgm.co.uk Apprentice Classified Stakes after striking at the track in his most recent outing.
In the Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Novice Stakes at Lingfield it is Pat Phelan’s Freda who can get off the mark at the second time of asking.
The four-year-old has been slow to come to hand having run only once so far, making her debut at this track in early January when second over a mile in a maiden event.
She was beaten half a length there, coming home behind Richard Hannon’s Space Invasion – who has subsequently won again before changing hands for 230,000 guineas through the Tattersalls sales ring.
Freda was a €26,000 purchase herself, and is a half sister to the Listed placed Asian Daze.
Her debut performance was in spite of a degree of greenness and a less than ideal passage, and therefore offered plenty of promise for her second start.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 1.35 So Many Roads, 2.05 Ballymackie, 2.35 Apache Tribe, 3.05 Big Stage, 3.35 Shoeshine Boy, 4.05 Cowboy Cooper, 4.35 GOULMICHETTE (NAP).
LIMERICK: 1.55 Jonny Mansie, 2.25 Likable Chancer, 2.55 Saveforarainyday, 3.25 Arslan, 3.55 Wild Wild Wind, 4.25 Lenjoleur De Palma, 4.55 Gillane.
LINGFIELD: 12.48 Freda, 1.18 Ashford Hill, 1.48 Star Chorus, 2.18 First Encounter, 2.48 Headshot, 3.18 Beauzon, 3.48 Epictetus, 4.18 Knight Of Magic.
NEWCASTLE: 4.45 Wicksey, 5.15 Sweet Princess, 5.45 Auspicious, 6.15 Triggerman, 6.45 Sir Maxi, 7.15 Northern Attitude, 7.45 Chris’s Mate.
DOUBLE: Goulmichette and Apache Tribe.
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