Dessie Hughes© Photo Healy Racing
Ireland's leading jump jockey Ruby Walsh has described legendary trainer and former rider Dessie Hughes as an "absolute gentleman".
Hughes, who had been battling illness, has died at the age of 71.
"Dessie Hughes was an absolute gentleman and I suppose he was one of the last old school Irish jockeys come trainers," Walsh said.
"He was a very good trainer with horses like Hardy Eustace and many great horses, but he was an absolute gentleman and a brilliant family man. All our thoughts are with Eileen, Richard, Sandra and all the rest of the family.
"Dessie Hughes will be a sad loss to everybody. He was a hugely popular guy. He will be at the foremost of everyone's thoughts. It's very sad."
Britain's perennial champion jockey Tony McCoy was also upset at hearing the news. He tweeted: "Very sad to hear the passing of Dessie Hughes, great jockey & trainer and a very proud dad, my thoughts are with Eileen, Sandra & Richard. RIP."
Roger Loughran, part of the Hughes team for many years, also joined the tributes. He rode a lot of the stable's good horses to victory including Schindlers Hunt to two Grade One triumphs, Central House, Black Apalachi and Grangeclare Lark.
Loughran said: "It's very sad. I rode plenty of top winners in good races for him. One of his best attributes was his attention to detail. It was second to none. He ate and slept racing the whole time.
"He would get the last ounce out of every horse. He would get the best out of them and that's what made him so outstanding. Every day he'd been out in the yard at seven o'clock in the morning."
Bryan Cooper was the stable jockey for a while before he was appointed retained rider for Gigginstown House Stud. He tweeted: "He was one of the greatest trainers that we've ever seen and by far the best mentor and friend anyone could ever ask for. RIP Dessie Hughes."
Leading jockey Barry Geraghty rode Guitar Pete to victory in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle for Hughes at Leopardstown in February. He tweeted: "Very sad news to hear of Dessie Hughes's passing. A legend of our sport and thorough gentleman, all our thoughts are with his family. RIP."
When Hughes drove Monksfield to victory in the 1979 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the partnership withstood the challenge of Sea Pigeon, ridden by Jonjo O'Neill, by three-quarters of a length. O'Neill, now a highly successful trainer at Jackdaws Castle, tweeted: "So sad to hear of passing of Dessie Hughes. We had some great tussles in the past and he was a lovely man."
Owner JP McManus, at Punchestown racecourse, said: "I think it's a sad day. You can feel it the minute you walk into Punchestown, how low the mood is. Dessie was a perfect gentleman, trainer, jockey and he was everything you would want in a person.
"We are all going to miss him, but it's particularly tough on his wife Eileen and family. They are all in our thoughts. He'll be missed, but he won't be forgotten."
