Noel Meade is a horse trainer from Castletown,

County Meath County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the ...

, Ireland. He established

Tu Va Stables Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland is an Irish thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding business that was established by Noel Meade, a prominent National Hunt racing horse trainer. Although he was a trainer, Meade did ride one horse earl ...

in Meath as a place to train his horses.

Early career: flat racing

Meade began his career as a

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for e ...

in 1971,Noel Meade Racing
noelmeade.com, accessed 30 January 2010. but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognised. Sweet Mint, winner of the

Cork and Orrery Stakes The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. Three-year-olds foaled in the Southern Hemisphere are also eligible. It is run at ...

in 1978 at Royal Ascot, was the first winner trained by Meade. That win generally thought of as the one that gained Meade notoriety in the horse racing community. He continued his rise to fame with wins in the early 1980s with Pinch Hitter and Steel Duke.Merry Meade jumps for joy
timesonline.co.uk, 1 January 2006, accessed 30 January 2010.

National Hunt racing

In the 1990s, Meade began to focus on

National Hunt racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

. The decade saw Meade train several horses believed to have great potential, but all of whom went on to have short careers in the National hunt circuit. His first successful horse in National Hunt racing was

Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square or Tian'anmen Square (; 天安门广场; Pinyin: ''Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng''; Wade–Giles: ''Tʻien1-an1-mên2 Kuang3-chʻang3'') is a city square in the city center of Beijing, China, named after the eponymous Tiananmen ...

, for which Meade had high hopes after winning at the 1992 Punchestown Champion Bumper at the

Punchestown Festival Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

. However, constant injuries kept Tiananmen Square from reaching the potential Meade believed he had.Meade’s Cardinal rule can end wait
independent.co.uk, 10 March 1999, accessed 30 January 2010. In the mid 1990s, Meade partnered up with jockey

Paul Carberry Paul Carberry is a retired Irish National Hunt jockey. Background He was born on 9 February 1974.Johnny Setaside Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Variant ...

who went on to win the 1995 Drinmore Novice Chase. Unfortunately, after winning the 1996 Ericsson Chase, Johnny Setaside died. Towards the end of the 1990s,

Cardinal Hill Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...

, winner of the 1999 Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle, was believed to be one of Meade's most talented horses during his 36-year career. However, Cardinal Hill's success was short lived, as he was fatally stricken with a case of colic in 1999. Speaking about Cardinal Hill, Meade was quoted as saying: ''The loss of Cardinal Hill was particularly hard to take. People say that its all part of the game and that is true to an extent, but that particular horse was very close to my heart and his death had a big impact on me. Those were tough times and hopefully we won’t have to endure another loss like it.'' This was yet another example of a talented horse that was never able to reach his full potential under the guidance of Meade. At the turn of the century, Meade’s luck changed. After 22 years, he earned his first

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Ra ...

win in 2000 when

Sausalito Bay Sausalito (Spanish for "small willow grove") is a city in Marin County, California, United States, located southeast of Marin City, south-southeast of San Rafael, and about north of San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge. Sausalito's p ...

won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Since his first win, Meade has trained two other winners ( Nicanor,

Go Native Go Native (foaled in 2003 in Ireland, died 23 November 2012) was an Irish Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse, born to sire Double Eclipse (horse), Double Eclipse and dam Native Idea.Harbour Pilot A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is a ...

won the Drinmore Novice Chase and the Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase. The Bunny Boiler won the

Midlands National Crown The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the In ...

and the

Irish Grand National The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 ...

, completing a remarkable double over the span of just two weeks. Two other Meade trained horses, Scottish Memories and

Strong Run Strong may refer to: Education * The Strong, an educational institution in Rochester, New York, United States * Strong Hall (Lawrence, Kansas), an administrative hall of the University of Kansas * Strong School, New Haven, Connecticut, United St ...

, completed another memorable double for the trainer, as they went on to win the 2002 Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle and the

Punchestown Champion Chase The Punchestown Champion Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the William Hill Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is ...

respectively on the same day. The 2004/05 season saw the emergence of

Harchibald Harchibald (foaled in 1999 in France) is a retired French-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse. Background Harchibald was sired by the stallion Perugino out of the mare Dame D’Harvard. He was owned by DP Sharkey, trained by Noel Meade ...

, arguably Meade's most successful National Hunt horse. Harchibald went on to win the 2004

Morgiana Hurdle The Morgiana Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong ...

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

and Christmas Hurdle. At the time, Harchibald was Meade's his best chance to win his first Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, Harchibald was closely defeated by Hardy Eustace at the 2005 Champion Festival, leaving Meade winless at the venue. Harchibald still went on to find success after the loss, winning the 2005 Bula Hurdle, 2007 Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the 2008 Christmas Hurdle. In recent years, Meade has trained three promising horses, Aran Concerto, Pandorama and

Go Native Go Native (foaled in 2003 in Ireland, died 23 November 2012) was an Irish Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse, born to sire Double Eclipse (horse), Double Eclipse and dam Native Idea.Deloitte Novice Hurdle The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres ...

and 2009 Powers Gold Cup, while Pandorama has won the 2009 Drinmore Novice Chase and

Deloitte Novice Hurdle The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres ...

. Go Native won the 2009 Supreme Novices Hurdle, as well as the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle. Winning the latter two put Go Native in position to capture the £1m bonus offered by WBX for achieving the

Triple Crown of Hurdling Triple is used in several contexts to mean "threefold" or a " treble": Sports * Triple (baseball), a three-base hit * A basketball three-point field goal * A figure skating jump with three rotations * In bowling terms, three strikes in a row * I ...

. As the horse's trainer, Noel Meade would have been awarded £150,000 of the bonus. However, Go Native came up short at the Champion Hurdle, finishing in 10th place.Bone scans and back specialists turn 999-1 Binocular into a champion
guardian.co.uk, 16 March 2010, accessed 17 March 2010.

Honours

Meade has been crowned Champion Trainer in Ireland seven times and won five National Hunt trainer titles. For all Meade's accomplishments in National Hunt racing, he still lacks wins in the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs (3 ...

, Champion Hurdle and the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap st ...

Cheltenham Festival winners (6)

* Supreme Novices' Hurdle (2) Sausilito Bay (2000),

Go Native Go Native (foaled in 2003 in Ireland, died 23 November 2012) was an Irish Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse, born to sire Double Eclipse (horse), Double Eclipse and dam Native Idea.Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (known as the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle for sponsorship reasons) is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years ...

- (1) Nicanor (2006) * Spa Novices' Hurdle - (1) Very Wood (2014) * Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase - (1) Road to Respect (2017) * Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle - (1) - Jeff Kidder (2021)

Major wins

Ireland *

Tattersalls Gold Cup The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards (2,112 ...

- (1) Helvic Dream (2021) * Irish Champion Hurdle - (1) Cockney Lad (1997) *

- (1) Strong Run (2002) *

Ryanair Gold Cup The WillowWarm Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Ireland which is open to Horse racing, horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fair ...

- (4) Thari (2003), Aran Concerto (2009), Realt Dubh (2011), Road To Respect (2017) *

Champion INH Flat Race The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Ireland for amateur riders which is open to horses aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong ...

- (4) Tiananmen Square (1992), Geill Sli (2004), Leading Run (2006), Mick the Man (2007) *

Ryanair Novice Chase The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and d ...

- (1) Sydney Twothousand (1999) *

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4 ...

- (1) Nicanor (2006) *

Champion Four Year Old Hurdle The Champion Four Year Old Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its run ...

- (2) Atherstone (1985), Jeff Kidder (2021) *

Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong ...

- (1) Disko (2017) *

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle The Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles ...

- (5) Cardinal Hill (1999), Scottish Memories (2002), Wild Passion (2005), Iktitaf (2006), Jered (2008) *

Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle The Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during ...

- (1) Casey Jones (2007) *

- (6) Cockney Lad (1996,1997), Nomadic (1998),

(2004), Iktitaf (2006), Jazz Messenger (2007) *

Royal Bond Novice Hurdle The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and ...

- (3) Wild Passion (2004), Iktitaf (2005), Muirhead (2007) * Drinmore Novice Chase - (5) Johnny Setaside (1995), Harbour Pilot (2001), Watson Lake (2004), Pandorama (2009), Beacon Edge (2021) *

Hatton's Grace Hurdle The Hatton's Grace Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 ...

- (1) Aitmatov (2007) * Racing Post Novice Chase - (2) Dardjini (1997), Realt Dubh (2010) * Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle - (4) Native Estates (1998), Mr Nosie (2006), Aran Concerto (2007), Pandorama (2009) *

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse at the end of December during the Christmas Festival, over a distance of about 2 mi ...

- (2) Mr Nosie (2005), Hollo Ladies (2009) * Christmas Hurdle (Ireland) - (2) Rosaker (2005), Monksland (2012) * Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase - (3) Harbour Pilot (2002), Apache Stronghold (2015), Disko (2017) * Savills Chase - (3) Johnny Setaside (1995), Pandorama (2010), Road To Riches (2014), Road to Respect (2017) *

December Festival Hurdle The December Festival Hurdle, currently known by its sponsored title of the Matheson Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is ...

- (1) Novello Allegro (1992) * Fort Leney Novice Chase - (2) Casey Jones (2008), Pandorama (2009) * Slaney Novice Hurdle - (2) Toofarback (2006), Monksland (2012) *

Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final The Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse Racecourse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 fu ...

- (1) Bondi Storm (2001) *

Ladbrokes Champion Chase The Ladbrokes Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its r ...

- (3) Road to Riches (2014), Road to Respect (2018, 2019) *

Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle The Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt novice hurdle race in Ireland which is for horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles and 6 furlongs (4, ...

- (2) Pietro Vannucci (2002), Nicanor (2006) *

Spring Juvenile Hurdle The Spring Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in February, over a distance of 2 miles. The race is restricted to four-year-old horses only a ...

- (2) Shirley's Delight (1994), Power Elite (2004), * Arkle Novice Chase - (2) Frozen Groom (2000), Realt Dubh (2011) ----

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It i ...

Diamond Jubilee Stakes The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. Three-year-olds foaled in the Southern Hemisphere are also eligible. It is run at ...

- (1) Sweet Mint (1978) *

- (3)

(2004, 2007),

(2004, 2008), Jazz Messenger (2006),