Cheltenham Racecourse will today honour Dessie Hughes who has died at the age of 71.
Hughes did well at Cheltenham with runners from his Irish base, sending out six Festival winners including Hardy Eustace who won two Champion Hurdles (2004 & 2005).
He was a jump jockey before he became a trainer and enjoyed eight Festival winners in the saddle, headed by Monksfield who won the 1979 Champion Hurdle and Davy Lad who took the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Hughes was the father of jockey Richard Hughes, champion jockey on the Flat in Britain (2012, 2013 and 2014).
There will be a tribute paid to Hughes at 12.40pm, followed by a minute’s silence.
The jockeys riding today will wear black armbands.
Dessie Hughes at The Festival:
8 wins as a jockey
1975 Davy Lad – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle
1976 Parkhill – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle
1976 Bit Of A Jig – Ladbrokes World Hurdle
1977 Mac’s Chariot – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
1977 Tip The Wink – Racing Post Arkle
1977 Davy Lad – Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
1979 Monksfield – Stan James Champion Hurdle
1979 Chinrullah – Racing Post Arkle
6 wins as a trainer
1982 Miller Hill – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2003 Hardy Eustace – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle
2004 Hardy Eustace – Stan James Champion Hurdle
2005 Hardy Eustace – Stan James Champion Hurdle
2005 Oulart – Pertemps Final
2013 Our Conor – JCB Triumph Hurdle