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Dessie Hughes is one of Ireland's most established and skilled trainers, who unlike many famous trainers has had success with plenty of different horses, with Hardy Eustace being one of the most notable. Like a lot of other trainers, he started out as a jockey and won the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad. He also beat Sea Pigeon, riding Monksfield in his most famous victory in the Champion Hurdle.
He had always planned on training and took out his licence in 1980, after three years of planning. He had early success with Light The Wad who won the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in 1982 and the 1981 and 1982 renewals of the Drogheda Chase at Punchestown. After just two years of taking out his licence Hughes had a coveted Cheltenham victory with Miller Hill in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. Although things had started out well for Hughes a virus knocked his yard for quite a few years, from the late 1980s until well into the 1990s - it eventually turned out to be a fungus problem, but it had taken many years to diagnose. Once he sorted the fungus problem at his stables Hughes came back in top form with horses such as Guest Performance, Roundwood and Hemisphere.
In 2001 Hughes bought Hardy Eustace for £21,000 and Central House for £28,000, who went on to win a total of twenty-five races between them, including nine Grade Ones. Hardy Eustace in particular proved to be a consistent hurdler who was particularly forthcoming at Cheltenham. He still remains a much loved and anticipated runner who has already earned over €1million in his career.
Hughes bought Schindlers Hunt at the same place as Hardly Eustace and Central House, the Goffs Land Rover Sale for €28,000, and he is proving himself to be another of Hughes great horses. He won the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Lepordstown and the Baileys Irish Arkle just one month later. He went on to win the 2008 renewal of the Dan Moore Handicap Chase and the the 2009 Leopardstown Handicap Chase before going on to be Grade One placed at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. Black Apalachi has recently stunned his trainer by becoming one of the Grand National favourites following a superb victory in the Beecher Chase last November. Hughes was surprised as the horse had started off well in his career but had taken a bit of a downturn for a couple of years, but as Hughes points out: 'Its amazing how they can improve at ten'. He is now well back on track, so it may prove to be third time lucky for the gelding.
Vic Venturi is Hughes' other National hopeful, after stealing the show at the Beechers Chase in November 2009 and at just nine years of age is in his prime for this kind of race. Again, he was not on top form for the past couple of years but the latter half of 2009 has shown his true potential with two wins and a second from three starts. Overall Hughes' chances of success at the biggest race in the racing calender are looking promising!
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