Desert Orchid, one of racing's most popular horses, died in his stable yesterday at the age of 27.

The flamboyant grey steeplechaser, affectionately known as Dessie, dominated jump racing for a decade, ranking alongside triple Grand National winner Red Rum and triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate.

Desert Orchid, renowned for his courage and breathtaking jumping, won the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup and 34 races in total, including four victories in Kempton's King George VI steeplechase.

"Desert Orchid died peacefully. There was no stress, he departed from this world with dignity and no fuss," his former trainer David Elsworth said in a statement.

Elsworth said Desert Orchid had not been well for the past week and had been losing his co-ordination.

He will be buried at Kempton Park near the equine statue that commemorates some of his most memorable triumphs.

Desert Orchid always hated running at the left-handed Cheltenham track but he conquered his aversion to land the Blue Riband of steeplechasing there.

His gutsy triumph over Yahoo up the stamina-stapping Cheltenham hill was voted the greatest race of all time by readers of The Racing Post.

"It was the manner in which he competed that captured the heart of a racing generation," Cheltenham's managing director Edward Gillespie said.

Retired jockey Colin Brown, Desert Orchid's regular partner from 1983 to 1988, said he owed his career to the grey and likened him to a Ferrari.

"He was in a different class. He was just an outstanding horse with an outstanding character. He could be stroppy sometimes but he was a real professional," he said.

"To put things in perspective, he was very ordinarily bred but it just shows what can happen sometimes. A big engine gets into a horse and they prove to be unbeatable," Brown said.

After Desert Orchid retired in 1991, the horse appeared at charity functions and race-day parades.

Ruby Walsh landed a double at Limerick yesterday. The champion jockey won the opening 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle on Financial Reward.

The Willie Mullins-trained colt scored by two-and-a-half lengths from Merveilles.

Orge D'ete (4 to 6) completed the brace for the pair in the final contest when running out an effortless six-length victor.