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

The stage is set for an exciting day of racing at ParisLongchamp, accompanied by domestic action from Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp features a thrilling showdown between the talented Green Spirit and Narissa. Green Spirit, trained by Christopher Head, made significant strides 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 on Arc Day, she remains a strong contender on her return, ridden by Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who has trailed Green Spirit on three occasions, including a third-place finish in the aforementioned Group 1, will need to demonstrate significant improvement to bridge the gap. Both horses are currently 8/1 favorites 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 underestimated after a superb performance in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All eyes 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 scored three wins from five starts as a two-year-old and finished the season with an impressive second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form makes him a strong favorite, and the step up to a mile is expected to suit him. 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, has 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, a newcomer from the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville partnership, has an attractive pedigree and warrants attention in the market. Knead A Win, trained by Sam Thomas, is top-rated and has solid claims if fit after a break. ParisLongchamp's Group 3 Prix Noailles has a history of notable 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 from a home nations perspective. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are expected to be popular among bettors for the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, with James Doyle riding the former for Wathnan Racing. On the domestic front, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the open-looking Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.