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

The stage is set for an exciting day of racing at ParisLongchamp, accompanied by domestic action from Ffos Las. The highly anticipated Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp features a thrilling showdown between the talented duo 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 on Arc Day, she sets a high standard on her return, partnered with Maxime Guyon. Narissa, who finished behind Green Spirit on three occasions last year, including a third-place finish in the Group 1, will need to have made progress over the winter to close the gap. Currently, both horses are 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, ridden by Christophe Soumillon. Evolutionist, trained by Karl Burke, cannot be overlooked after a superb performance in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. All eyes will be on Nighttime as he puts his Classic claims to the test in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau. The Christopher Head-trained colt had an impressive campaign as a two-year-old, scoring three wins and finishing with an excellent second place behind Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. This form makes him a favorite to win, and the step up to a mile is likely to suit him. Regal Resolve, from the dominant Francis-Henri Graffard yard, poses the main threat after winning 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 Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle features Doujadou and Into The Blue among a field of 11. Doujadou, trained by Rebecca Curtis, has shown promise and is expected to improve with racing. Into The Blue, a newcomer trained by Nicky Henderson, has an interesting pedigree and should be monitored in the market. The Sam Thomas-trained Knead A Win is top-rated but needs to prove fitness after an absence. The Group 3 Prix Noailles has a rich 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 with bettors in the Listed Prix Lord Seymour. On home soil, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las.