Listowel Festival: Pasteur, described by his trainer as a "funny little devil", confirmed the pattern of this year's Listowel festival when springing a 14 to 1 shock in the Lartigue Hurdle.
Noel Meade's supposed second string was the complete outsider of the field but still had a head in hand of his better fancied stable mate Carlesimo (Paul Carberry) on the line.
It had been a year since Pasteur last won but significantly that had been over the course and distance, and on fast ground.
"He loves quick ground and might be a type to do well jumping in America," Meade said. "He's a funny little devil. We've tried him in blinkers and in a tongue-tie but we decided they made no difference.
"He has been disappointing this year but the first sign of a spark came at Fairyhouse last week. We were happy then he was coming back."
Pasteur's return was dramatic, with Ian Power having him prominent for most of the trip and keeping enough in reserve to hold on. It was a seventh Lartigue win for Meade, who started with Fane Ranger 21 years ago.
The opening-day feature was won by the outsider of Jim Bolger's pair, Turn Back Time. Michael Hourigan is the only one double-handed in today's National, with Rockholm Boy and Native Performance.
Davy Condon got some flak for his opening-day performance on Bob What but an opportunist ride on the odds-on Automatic Racer showed it had no impact on his confidence.
The top apprentice clung to the rail all the way around and the gap up the inner that Automatic Racer pounced on was probably the difference between victory and defeat.
Colourfast had been runner-up in five of her previous 11 starts but she put that right in emphatic style when bursting clear of Coronado Forest in the final furlong of the mile maiden.
John Murtagh narrowed the gap on Mick Kinane in the jockeys' championship to just three when Kiteflyer gave the former title holder win number 56 of the season.
The betting figures were down again at Listowel yesterday, with bookmaker turnover of €1,060,863 down from last year's €1,328,377. The Tote figure of €226,971 compared with last year's €285,714. No crowd figure was available.
