Daryl Jacob on Top Notch: it has hit me hard, it's like losing a best friend

Daryl Jacob has spoken of his deep sadness at the death of the much-loved Top Notch, a horse he rode to victory ten times during a memorable career.

Jacob has been associated with some of jump racing's biggest stars, winning multiple Grade 1s and the 2012 Grand National on Neptune Collonges, but Top Notch has always been a firm favourite.

The death of the prolific ten-year-old on Sunday after failed stomach surgery has led to an outpouring of emotions by connections and racing fans alike.

'He was a trainer's dream' – Nicky Henderson leads the tributes to Top Notch

Jacob, retained rider for Top Notch's owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "It has hit me hard, it's like losing a best friend. When I started my journey with Simon, Isaac and Anthony Bromley [racing manager], he was the first good horse I got to ride, so we've had a long association. He was due to come back to me for his retirement – and I didn't want it to end this way.

"My wife Kelly and the kids used to come racing whenever he ran. They loved him too – he was a family horse to us."

All smiles: Daryl Jacob and Nicky Henderson are in great spirits after Top Notch's victory in the 2017 Peterborough ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Top Notch was recruited from France as a three-year-old and won 14 of his 31 starts for Nicky Henderson, the high point coming in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown in 2017.

Despite his diminutive stature, he was successful in half of his 18 chase starts, showing a great will to win that made him a real fans' favourite.

"He was a wonderful little horse, very kind and laid-back," added Jacob. "He wasn't very big, but he had a massive heart and loved pleasing people.

"We had some great days together, winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase and two Peterborough Chases, and I enjoyed every moment with him. If I was in at Nicky's, I used to get there early to go and see him with his head over the door."

An immensely popular figure at Henderson's Seven Barrows stable, Top Notch was looked after by Guru Kola and ridden out by Sarah Shreeve, who has also exercised the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Bobs Worth.

"He was a legend," Shreeve said. "He was a small horse with a big personality. He was cheeky and used to like swinging his head around and having a buck and a kick, but he never hurt anybody. He could smell a polo from a mile away and was very spoiled."

Top Notch: diminutive in size but 'only wanted to please'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The loss of Top Notch has hit Shreeve particularly hard as she was still reeling from the death of L'Ami Serge – another of her horses – in February.

"I've been here for 18 years and this has been my hardest year by far," she said. "L'Ami Serge was completely different as he wasn't the most straightforward, but he was such a lovely animal with so much ability.

"It's been really difficult. You spend more time with them than anybody and they become your family."

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