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 showdown is expected in the Prix de la Grotte, where the talented Green Spirit and Narissa are poised to clash. 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 in her reappearance, ridden by Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who has consistently finished behind Green Spirit, including a third-place finish in the Group 1, will need to demonstrate significant improvement to close the gap. Both fillies are currently 8/1 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 performance in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic credentials on the line 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 with an excellent second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form makes him the likely 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, who claimed a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud last month, has a fitness edge over his rivals, while Campacite boasts top-level placed form for Jean-Claude Rouget. A competitive field is expected in the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle, featuring 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 interesting newcomer from the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville combination, boasts an impressive pedigree and should be monitored in the market. Knead A Win, trained by Sam Thomas, is top-rated but needs to prove fitness after an absence. The Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp has a history of 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 choices in 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.