Green Spirit and Narissa Set for Showdown in Prix de la Grotte

A thrilling day of racing is on the horizon, with key events taking place at ParisLongchamp and Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp is set to feature a captivating clash between the talented Green Spirit and Narissa. Green Spirit, trained by Christopher Head, made a significant impact last season with four consecutive wins, including victories at Group 3 and Group 2 levels. Although she was beaten by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac, she is expected to set the standard in her reappearance, ridden by Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who has consistently finished behind Green Spirit, including a third-place finish in the Group 1, will need to demonstrate significant improvement to close the gap. Both horses are currently priced at 8/1 for the French 1000 Guineas. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has won the last two renewals of this race, also fields Anashkaya, partnered with Christophe Soumillon. Evolutionist, trained by Karl Burke, cannot be overlooked after an impressive third-place finish in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All attention will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic claims to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Trained by Christopher Head, Nighttime had a successful two-year-old campaign, scoring three wins and finishing second behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form makes him the favorite, and the step up to a mile is likely to suit him. Regal Resolve poses the main threat, having won two of his three starts, including a pair of all-weather races at Chantilly. Elastic, who claimed a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud last month, has a fitness edge over his rivals, while Campacite boasts top-level placed form for Jean-Claude Rouget. A competitive field is expected in the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle, with Doujadou and Into The Blue featuring among the 11 runners. Doujadou, trained by Rebecca Curtis, has shown promise and is expected to improve with racing. Into The Blue, an interesting newcomer from the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville combination, boasts an impressive pedigree and should be monitored in the market. The Sam Thomas-trained Knead A Win is top-rated and has solid claims if fit enough after an absence. The Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp has a rich history, with notable winners including Calandagan in 2024. This year, Spece Waltz is well-fancied for Andre Fabre, while Joseph O'Brien's Hardy Warrior is of interest from a home nations perspective. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely to be popular with bettors in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, with James Doyle taking the ride on the former for Wathnan Racing. On home soil, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.