Green Spirit and Narissa Set to Collide in the Prix de la Grotte

A thrilling day of racing is on the horizon with the domestic scene in action at Ffos Las and top-class racing from ParisLongchamp. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp is set to feature a clash between the exciting Green Spirit and Narissa. Green Spirit, trained by Christopher Head, made significant progress last season with four consecutive wins, including victories at Group 3 and Group 2 levels. Although she was defeated by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac, she is expected to set the standard upon her return, ridden by Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who trailed Green Spirit on three occasions last year, including in the Group 1, will need to have made significant improvement over the winter to close the gap. Both are currently 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 a superb performance in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. The focus will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic aspirations to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Trained by Christopher Head, Nighttime won three of his five starts as a two-year-old and ended the campaign with an impressive second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, making him the likely favorite. The step up to a mile is expected to suit him. Regal Resolve poses the main threat for Francis-Henri Graffard's yard, having won two of his three starts and deserving a chance at this higher level. Elastic, with a recent Listed win at Saint-Cloud, has a fitness advantage, while Campacite boasts top-level placed form for Jean-Claude Rouget. The Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle features a competitive field, including Doujadou and Into The Blue. Doujadou, trained by Rebecca Curtis, has shown promise and is expected to improve with experience. Into The Blue, a newcomer trained by Nicky Henderson, has an intriguing pedigree and should be monitored in the market. Knead A Win, trained by Sam Thomas, is top-rated but needs to prove fitness after a break. The Group 3 Prix Noailles has a rich history, with past winners including Calandagan in 2024. This year, Spece Waltz is highly fancied for Andre Fabre, while Joseph O'Brien's Hardy Warrior is of interest. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely to be popular choices for the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, with James Doyle riding the former. On the domestic front, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.