The winter break has now come to an end and ParisLongchamp, home of Parisian racing, is set to re-open its doors, with 27 days of action programmed for the 2023 season.

Proceedings are set to get under way this Sunday, 9 April, with the Gr.2 Prix d’Harcourt taking centre stage. An early-season highlight for older horses, Simca Mille is a leading contender. A close second in last July’s Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, he subsequently secured the Gr.2 Prix Niel before running out of steam in the Japan Cup. Unseen since, he makes his seasonal bow against facile Gr.3 Prix Exbury winner, Haya Zark, and Iresine, who was victorious in last October’s Gr.1 Prix Royal-Oak.

Sunday also sees the running of the Prix La Force and Prix Vanteaux, for colts and fillies respectively. These Gr.3 events are long-established preparatory races, and stepping stones, to the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, 4 June), and Prix Saint-Alary (14 May) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks, 18 June).

All eyes will be on the Nurlan Bizakov-owned Padishakh in the Prix La Force. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has for some time had this 1,800m (9f) race as the first target of the year for his classic prospect. Yann Barberot will send out Rashford, another promising colt that won smartly at Deauville last month.

Taking on the British and Irish contenders in the 1,800m Prix Vanteaux, Rouget will saddle Around Midnight, while Yann Barberot will be represented by Sea The Lady, and Carlos Laffon-Parias the relatively inexperienced but highly promising blue-blood, Jannah Rose.

The best of the high-season will return to the capital with the Arc Trials set to be run on 10 September, three weeks before arguably the world’s most iconic flat race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.