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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Vista pounces as Rathlin blunders
Vista pounces as Rathlin blunders
Prima Vista charged home on the run-in to land the spoils in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The race looked like developing into a duel between Dare To Doubt and Rathlin as they locked horns two from home.
Rathlin hit the front going to the penultimate flight but wasn't helped by a sloppy jump there.
He worked his way into the lead again going to the last but a bad blunder ended his chances and Prima Vista was on hand to pounce, under Paul Carberry.
He kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a cosy length-and-three-quarters success over the staying on Rathlin.
"I kept this here in mind all season for him," said winning trainer Noel Meade afterwards.
"He was unlucky in the MCR Hurdle when he got trapped and then was out wide and at Naas last time he was too far behind to be competitive.
"If he comes out of this ok he'll go for one of the Grade 1s at Punchestown either the two-mile or two-and-a-half mile.
"I've a feeling he possibly wants further so it could be the two-and-a-half mile."
"They went a good gallop the whole way and it suited my lad," added Carberry.
"Davy Russell's horse was going well when he hit the last but I was there to take full advantage. He kept on well to the line."