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

Racing enthusiasts are in for a treat with a packed schedule at ParisLongchamp, complemented by domestic action from Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp features a thrilling matchup between 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 beaten 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 a third-place finish in the 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, is another contender after a strong performance in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All attention 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 won three of his five starts as a two-year-old and finished the season with an impressive second-place finish 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. Elsewhere, Regal Resolve poses a significant threat, having won two of his three starts, including a pair of lesser races on the all-weather at Chantilly. Elastic, with a recent Listed win at Saint-Cloud, has a fitness edge over his competitors, 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 its 11 participants. Doujadou, a point winner, has shown promise in his starts over hurdles and is expected to improve with racing. Into The Blue, a newcomer trained by Nicky Henderson, has an intriguing pedigree and warrants market attention. Knead A Win, trained by Sam Thomas, is top-rated but faces fitness concerns after a layoff. The Group 3 Prix Noailles has a rich history of stellar winners, including Calandagan in 2024, and 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 for Wathnan Racing. On the domestic front, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.