Dessie Hughes was one of a very rare breed of Irish horsemen to have enjoyed top-level success at the Cheltenham Festival as both a trainer and jockey.
In 1977, Hughes partnered the Mick O'Toole-trained Davy Lad to glory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while in 1979 he claimed the Champion Hurdle as Monksfield defeated Sea Pigeon in one of the most memorable duels in National Hunt history.
Other Festival wins came by way of Chinrullah, who won the Arkle in 1979 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase 12 months later (only to be subsequently disqualified from the latter), Davy Lad and Parkhill in successive SunAlliance Hurdles in the 1975 and 1976, Mac's Chariot in the 1977 Supreme Novices' 'Hurdle and Bit Of A Jig's 1976 Stayers' Hurdle success.
In 1980, Hughes took out his training licence and it did not take long for him to make his mark at the highest level, with Irish Arkle winner Light The Wad the undoubted stable star in the early years.
Just two years into his training career he struck Cheltenham gold again as Miller Hill prevailed in the 1982 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Hughes enjoyed the most difficult spell of his training career as a persistent stable virus, a problem which took a number of years to fully eradicate, led to a loss of form.
However, that was eventually overcome and the likes of Grade One-winning hurdler Colonel Braxton and the prolific Guest Performance got the show back on the road around the turn of the century.
At the Land Rover Sale at Goffs in 2001, Hughes picked up two bargain buys that would take his career to new heights.
Hardy Eustace was snapped up for just 21,000 guineas, while Central House was bought for 28,000.
The pair would go on to finish first and second in the Land Rover Bumper at Fairyhouse - but that was just the start of their superb careers as they were to record 25 victories between them, including nine Grade Ones.
Hardy Eustace was the best and most popular horse Hughes trained during his entire career, winning the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle in 2003, where he was ridden by Kieran Kelly who tragically died in a fall just months later, before clinching successive Champion Hurdles in 2004 and 2005 in his determined front-running style.
Hardy Eustace was retired at the end of 2009 having accrued well over €1million in prize-money.
Although Central House did not reach those dizzy heights over hurdles, he did develop into a top-class two-mile chaser, winning at Grade One level at Leopardstown twice, as well as securing numerous other big-race successes.
In recent years, the likes of Schindlers Hunt, Black Apalachi and Rare Bob were some of Hughes' leading players over fences.
Our Conor looked a potential world-beater following his staggering display in the 2013 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he sadly suffered a fatal injury when running in the Champion Hurdle earlier this year.
Hughes' final Grade One winner was Guitar Pete, who claimed the Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.
Hughes is survived by his wife Eileen, daughter Sandra and son Richard, who has been champion Flat jockey in Britain for the last three seasons and is one of the most successful riders of the modern era, claiming numerous Group One prizes all over the world.
