Irving’s participation in next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham is in doubt.

Dessie Hughes was described as the "professional’s professional" by Willie Mullins as tributes poured in from the racing world following the Kildare trainer’s death at the age of 71.

THIRD in the race last year, Siegemaster defied top-weight in the Connolly’s Red Mills Thyestes Chase yesterday, giving trainer Dessie Hughes, jockey Davy Russell and owner Michael O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud their first win in the traditional Gowran Park feature.

LAST year’s Cheltenham Festival produced one of the most poignant moments in the history of the great event.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the premier event in the steeplechasing calendar, and Dessie Hughes certainly knows what it takes to win the Blue-Riband event of the festival, having piloted the Mick O’Toole-trained Davy Lad to victory in the 1977 race.