Green Spirit and Narissa Set to Collide in 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 is anticipated as the dynamic duo Green Spirit and Narissa face off in the prestigious Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp. 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 beaten by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc Day, she sets the standard for her return under the guidance of 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 winter progress to bridge the gap. The pair are currently joint 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 overlooked after a superb third-place finish in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All attention will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic aspirations to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau at 2:50 pm. The Christopher Head-trained colt scored three wins from 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, earning him favorite status and likely benefiting from the step up to a mile. Regal Resolve poses the main threat from the dominant Francis-Henri Graffard yard, having won two of his three starts and deserving a shot at this higher level. Elastic, with a recent Listed win at Saint-Cloud, holds a fitness advantage, 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 11 contenders. Rebecca Curtis, who claimed this prize last season with Newton Tornado, presents Doujadou, who has shown promise and is expected to improve. Into The Blue, a 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 layoff. The Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp has a history of stellar winners, including Calandagan in 2024, with Spece Waltz well-fancied for Andre Fabre and Joseph O'Brien's Hardy Warrior of interest. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely to be popular in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour, while the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.