Softening ground will not favour Vista

Former Grade 2 winning hurdler Prima Vista makes a belated first start under Flat rules at Limerick this evening in the 1m3f maiden.

Things have not quite gone to plan since switching to fences this season, although the eight-year-old gelding has put up some good performances including when second to Alderwood at Navan in January.

Overnight rain has changed the going at Greenmount Park from good to what is currently described as soft (yielding to soft in places), and that is certainly not in his favour as trainer Noel Meade said, “It’s a pity the rain has come as good ground would have suited him much better.

“He’s a horse we always felt would win Flat races and, after having a disappointing season and failing to win over fences, we’ve decided there is no point in winning a beginners chase with him now.

"He's also got a high enough rating over hurdles so we’ve decided to give him a run on the Flat and see how we go.”

Prima Vista’s main rival in the eight-runner event is undoubtedly the Aidan O’Brien-trained Marchese Marconi although the Galileo colt is on something of a retrieval mission after failing to land odds of 1/5 at Dundalk last week.