We have a compelling day of racing at ParisLongchamp, with domestic action continuing at Ffos Las. Several races feature serious classic and jumping prospects to watch.
Green Spirit and Narissa renew hostilities in the featured Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp. Trained by Christopher Head, Green Spirit progressed rapidly last season, winning her first four starts including at Group 3 and Group 2 level. She ran respectably behind Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day and returns under Maxime Guyon as the benchmark on form.
Narissa finished behind Green Spirit on three occasions as a juvenile, including when third in that Group 1. She must have improved over the winter to close the gap, but the pair are currently quoted around 8/1 for the French 1000 Guineas. Francis-Henri Graffard, who has won the last two renewals of this race, also runs Anashkaya with Christophe Soumillon aboard.
Karl Burke’s Evolutionist, third in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, has shown enough at the top level to be respected and cannot be dismissed if she reproduces that form.
At 2.50pm the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau takes centre stage and all eyes will be on Nighttime. Christopher Head’s colt won three of five starts at two and closed the season with a solid second to Puerto Rico in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. That form makes him a deserved favourite and the step up to a mile looks likely to suit.
The likely danger is Regal Resolve for Francis-Henri Graffard, who was supplemented for this race after winning a pair of all-weather contests at Chantilly. Elastic, fresh from a Listed win at Saint-Cloud, brings fitness to the line, while Campacite has shown top-level place form for Jean-Claude Rouget and merits consideration.
Over at Ffos Las, the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle (2.38) shapes as a competitive heat. Doujadou, trained by Rebecca Curtis, has been placed in both hurdle starts after earlier success in points and is expected to improve with experience. Into The Blue, a newcomer for Nicky Henderson with Nico de Boinville booked, is an interesting type by Blue Bresil and should be watched closely in the betting.
Sam Thomas’s Knead A Win is the top-rated runner on 122 and has solid claims if fully fit following a break.
Other races of note: the Group 3 Prix Noailles (3.25) at ParisLongchamp features Spece Waltz for André Fabre and Joseph O’Brien’s Hardy Warrior, both attracting interest. The Listed Prix Lord Seymour (4.00) looks likely to see support for Map Of Stars and Marquisat, with James Doyle booked to ride Map Of Stars for Wathnan Racing. Back at Ffos Las, the progressive Manigod could be the one to beat in the Tommy Williams Memorial Handicap Hurdle (3.50) in what appears an open contest.
Overall it’s a day that could reveal key classic contenders over a mile at ParisLongchamp while offering intriguing jumping prospects and local handicaps to keep an eye on at Ffos Las.