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

The stage is set for an exciting day of racing at ParisLongchamp, complemented by domestic action from Ffos Las. A thrilling encounter between Green Spirit and Narissa is anticipated in the Prix de la Grotte, a highlight of the ParisLongchamp event. Green Spirit, trained by Christopher Head, made significant strides in the previous season with four consecutive wins, including victories at Group 3 and Group 2 levels. Although defeated by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac, Green Spirit is poised to set the standard under Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who has consistently trailed Green Spirit in the past, including a third-place finish in the Group 1, will need to demonstrate substantial improvement to bridge the gap. Both horses are currently 8/1 favorites for the French 1000 Guineas. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has secured the last two renewals of this race, also fields Anashkaya, partnered with Christophe Soumillon. Evolutionist, trained by Karl Burke, cannot be overlooked following an impressive third-place finish in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All attention will be focused on Nighttime as he tests his Classic claims in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Trained by Christopher Head, Nighttime concluded his two-year-old campaign with an outstanding second-place finish behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, making him a likely favorite. The step up to a mile is expected to suit Nighttime. Regal Resolve poses the main threat from the dominant Francis-Henri Graffard yard, having won two of his three starts. Elastic, with a recent Listed win at Saint-Cloud, holds a fitness advantage over his competitors, 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 racing experience. Into The Blue, an intriguing newcomer from the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville partnership, boasts an impressive pedigree and warrants market attention. Knead A Win, trained by Sam Thomas, is top-rated but needs to prove fitness after a hiatus. The Group 3 Prix Noailles has a history of producing exceptional 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 among bettors in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, with James Doyle riding the former for Wathnan Racing. On the domestic front, Manigod appears to be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.