'He was a star' - Kim Bailey pays tribute to Harry Topper after death aged 16

Kim Bailey has paid tribute to the "most generous, kind horse" Harry Topper, who has died at the age of 16.

He hailed the chaser as the best he had trained since Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Master Oats after he gave him his first Graded race win for more than a decade when landing the Worcester Novices' Chase at Newbury in 2012.

And Harry Topper went on to make his mark in open company, taking the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and the Denman Chase – by 25 lengths – back at Newbury in the 2013-14 season.

Harry Topper (left, yellow cap) on his way to winning the Charlie Hall Chase at WetherbyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He spent his retirement in Ireland with Kayleigh Thomson, who had looked after him when he was in training at Bailey's Cheltenham yard, but old age and failing health caught up with him and he was put down this week.

"He was a star for me," the trainer reflected. "He was the first horse who put me back on the map.

"Harry Topper will live in all our memories here at Thorndale. He was the most generous, kind horse, although he was a bit of a freak.

"He never showed any real ability at home and when he made his debut in a bumper at Hereford I suggested to his owner-breeder David Keyte that I would drop him off at his home on the way back as we were not expecting to see much on the racecourse."

Kim Bailey: 'History will also tell you he really was a racehorse - tall, quirky and talented'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Harry Topper was a 28-1 winner of that first bumper start and Bailey said: "History relates that he did not go back to his breeder as he returned here as a racehorse. History will also tell you he really was a racehorse – tall, quirky and talented."

Harry Topper, who was retired in 2018, won eight of his 24 races and earned over £153,000 in prize-money.

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