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

Racing enthusiasts are in for a treat with a potentially enlightening day of action at ParisLongchamp, complemented by domestic events at Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp is set to feature a thrilling showdown between the talented Green Spirit and Narissa. Trained by Christopher Head, Green Spirit made significant strides last season, securing victories in her first four starts, including Group 3 and Group 2 levels. Although she faced defeat at the hands of Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc Day, 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 a third-place finish in the aforementioned Group 1, will need to demonstrate significant improvement over the winter to bridge the gap. However, both are currently priced at 8/1 for the French 1000 Guineas. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has claimed 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 eyes will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic aspirations to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. The Christopher Head-trained colt achieved victories in three of his five starts as a two-year-old and concluded the campaign with an excellent second-place finish behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form earns him favoritism, and the step up to a mile is likely to suit. Regal Resolve poses the main threat for the dominant Francis-Henri Graffard yard, having been supplemented for this race after winning two of his three starts on the all-weather at Chantilly. Elastic, who secured a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud last month, holds a fitness advantage over his rivals, while Campacite boasts top-level placed form for Jean-Claude Rouget. A competitive Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle features Doujadou and Into The Blue among a field of 11. Rebecca Curtis, who claimed this prize with Newton Tornado last season, saddles Doujadou, who has shown promise and is expected to improve with racing. Into The Blue, an intriguing newcomer for the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville combination, boasts an impressive pedigree and warrants market attention. The Sam Thomas-trained Knead A Win is top-rated and holds solid claims if fit enough after an absence. The Group 3 Prix Noailles has a history of producing stellar 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. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely 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.