Meade honours Harchibald after the 25-year-old superstar hurdler passed away

Following the news of the wildly popular hurdler's passing at the age of 25, Noel Meade has paid a touching homage to Harchibald.

Even though he was so spectacular in his wins, he is most known for losing to Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Champion Hurdle, where Paul Carberry was leading by a neck with Brave Inca in third place. Carberry sat motionless over the last stretch.

“Hail the King, our King is dead ... . Harchi was my favourite horse of all time,” Meade posted on X. “I know on occasions he annoyed people and for sure he annoyed me but we had great days together, @paulcarberry Harchi & myself…never to be forgotten & I’d like to thank Johnny & Danielle Hurley for looking after him so well in his retirement. He became part of the family with them. R.I.P. old friend… #harchibald.”

Among Harchibald's five triumphs in Grade One were two at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle and two at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth. At Tipperary, he also won the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle.

Overall, Meade's hero collected nearly £500,000 in prize money, winning 14 of his 48 races under the rules.