BRIAN Lusk, trainer of dual Champion Chase winner Skymas, died peacefully last Sunday in a nursing home in Saintfield, Co Down.

He trained Skymas to win an incredible 37 races in the 1970s, including a Troytown Chase under Sammy Shields, two Champion Chases (1976 and 1977) under Mouse Morris, and a Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The horse also placed second in an Irish National.

In that era Lusk was one of Ireland’s top National Hunt trainers, saddling winners at major meetings on both sides of the Irish Sea. In more recent times Lusk was better known as a dealer in quality eventing horses.

Skymas, who died at the age of 32, topped the list of the six best jumpers to have been trained in Northern Ireland, which was compiled in 2007 by the late Jimmy Walker of the Belfast Telegraph.

Walker wrote: “Skymas, the winner of two consecutive Champion Chases (1976-77) at Cheltenham at the ripe old ages of 11 and 12, was arguably the best horse ever trained in Northern Ireland… He was talented at a variety of distances, and although he scored regularly at two miles, he also finished runner-up in an Irish Grand National (to Tartan Ace in 1973).”

Mike Todd, grandson of Matt Magee, who bred Skymas, added: “Those were amazing days when Skymas was at his best, and in addition to his two Cheltenham Festival victories, he also won the Mackeson Gold Cup in 1973 – three years before his first festival win – and went on to land the Sun Ratings Chase at Liverpool the day Red Rum won his third National.

“Skymas began his career in a bumper at Downpatrick in 1972, and was ridden by Dermot Weld who, at that time, was making his way through the amateur ranks. I’ll never forget the buzz Skymas gave Northern Ireland racing, and an Ulster jockey, Sammy Shields, was also involved with him when scoring in the Troytown at Navan.”

Grand National-winning trainer Mouse Morris, who won those two Queen Mother Champion Chases on Skymas, regarded the victories as the highlights of his career in the saddle. Others to have ridden for Lusk included Stan Murphy, Frank Berry, Tommy Carberry, Tommy Stack, Kevin Prendergast, Robin Bingham, George McGruggan and sisters, Anne Ferris and Rosemary Rooney.

Among other successful horses at the Lusk yard were Tommy Allen’s ill-fated Mr Barcock (considered by Lusk to be the best horse he ever trained as he won three bumpers, the November Handicap at Leopardstown and was a short-head second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before succumbing to injury in the field), Howard McMurray’s Paddy’s Well and Aldave whose owner, David Prentice, was considered the luckiest in the yard. Lusk’s own colours were carried to victory 20 times by Major Owen.

Lusk purchased as a foal, and sold as a three-year-old, the 1975 gelding Wayward Lad whose total of 28 wins included a hat-trick of victories in the King George VI Chase when trained by Michael Dickinson.

For 20 years, Lusk sourced successful horses (including the Cheltenham winner King Cutler) for the late Denys Smith whose first track winner, Owen’s Mark, was found by Brian and Harold’s grandfather James Lusk.

Despite his great success in racing, Brian, who bought many of his horses in the company of the late Jerry Rohan, handed in his licence towards the end of the 1970s. In an interview he explained: “Unfortunately, due to the difference between punts and sterling and the introduction of VAT on training fees in Northern Ireland, training here became unviable. I then started dealing in sport horses, especially eventers, for the British market.”

Predeceased by his young son James, who died in a tractor accident in 1981, and by his daughter Margaret, Brian Lusk is survived by his daughter Catherine. A celebration of his life will be held at his home, 48 Knockany Road, Carr, Lisburn, BT27 6YB today (Saturday) at 2pm after a private cremation.

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