Irish racehorse trainer Dessie Hughes dies at 71

CHELTENHAM, England (AP) Dessie Hughes, a leading Irish racehorse trainer who rode Davy Lad to victory in the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1977, has died. He was 71.

The British Horseracing Authority announced the death on Sunday. Hughes had been battling illness.

Hughes enjoyed great success at the Cheltenham Festival, first as a jockey when he followed up his Gold Cup win by riding Monksfield to a win in the Champion Hurdle in 1979.

As a trainer, he won the Champion Hurdle with Hardy Eustace in 2004 and '05.

Hughes' son, Richard, has been Britain's champion flat jockey on three occasions.