Irish jump racing legend Dessie Hughes dies (AFP)

Dessie Hughes, a giant of Irish jump racing both as a jockey and then trainer, has died at the age of 71. Hughes rode Monksfield to win the 1979 Champion Hurdle and then sent out Hardy Eustace to claim the 2004 and 2005 editions of the hurdling crown as a trainer. Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winning jockey turned trainer Jonjo O’Neill tweeted: “So sad to hear of the passing of Dessie Hughes. Conor O’Dwyer, who rode Hardy Eustace in both his Champion Hurdle triumphs, said: “There’s gentlemen and then there was Dessie Hughes.