Racehorse trainer Dessie Hughes dies aged 71

Irish trainer Dessie Hughes has died at the age of 71.

Racing star

Dessie first found fame as a jockey, winning the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup and the 1979 Champion Hurdle.

A fall at the Cheltenham Festival in 1980 ended his riding career, but he went on to have much success as a National Hunt trainer.

Hardy

His most famous runner was the great Hardy Eustace, who won back to back Champion Hurdles in 2004 and 2005.

Dessie’s last Cheltenham winner came when Our Conor took the 2013 Triumph Hurdle.

After undergoing surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour last year, he fell ill again in recent weeks.

Champion

Dessie had also been a big influence in the career of his son, Richard, who was crowned champion Flat jockey for the third time a few weeks ago.

Richard paid tribute to his father at the time of winning the championship: “I vowed to do everything I could to defend the title for him. He was the one I was doing it for,” he said.

A minute’s silence was held yesterday (16 November) at Cheltenham’s Open meeting.