Green Spirit and Narissa Set to Collide in the 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 on the cards as the talented 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 defeated by Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc Day, she is expected to set the standard on 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 have made progress over the winter to bridge the gap. Both horses are currently priced at 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. All attention will be focused 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 won three of his five starts as a two-year-old and finished the campaign with an excellent second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, earning him favoritism here. The step up to a mile is likely to suit him. Regal Resolve poses the main threat from the dominant Francis-Henri Graffard yard, having won two of his three starts, including a pair of lesser races on the all-weather at Chantilly, and now deserves a chance at this higher level. Elastic, who claimed 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 field of 11 is lined up for the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle, featuring Doujadou and Into The Blue. Rebecca Curtis, who won this prize with Newton Tornado last season, presents Doujadou, who has shown promise and is expected to improve with racing experience. Into The Blue, an intriguing newcomer from the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville combination, boasts an impressive pedigree and should be closely watched in the market. The Sam Thomas-trained Knead A Win is top-rated on a mark of 122 and has solid claims if fit enough after a break. The Group 3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp 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 from a home nations perspective. Map Of Stars and Marquisat are likely to be popular among bettors for the Listed Prix Lord Seymour at 4 pm, with James Doyle riding the former for Wathnan Racing. On the domestic front, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in an open-looking Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at 3:50 pm at Ffos Las.