IN the space of one week, in three very different circumstances, National Hunt racing lost three star performers, the combined winners of eight Cheltenham championship races.

Vautour was fatally injured in his paddock, Sprinter Sacre’s leg injury brought about his retirement, and Simonsig’s fall the same afternoon at Cheltenham resulted in his death.

The loss of Vautour the previous week was put into context by the serious injuries suffered a week earlier by jockey Freddy Tylicki.

Vautour’s owner Rich Ricci easily came to terms with losing one star in comparison to Tylicki’s life-changing injuries. Though given that he also has Annie Power, Faugheen and Douvan to race this season, Vautour’s loss was perhaps easier to absorb than if he had just one star horse.

Vautour was possibly the best horse lost since Golden Cygnet, in the sense that what he had done was brilliant but he could still have given us something even more special.

His pure brilliance at Cheltenham sent everyone from punters to pundits and all the racing folk in between, into raptures. Similarly Simonsig had a big following and more to give.

We recall Ruby Walsh’s comments after Our Conor had met his end - horses are outside your back door, family is inside. It doesn’t stop them getting in your head too and can make some of the more trying things easier to bear. And then we move on and focus on those who need help.

We saw all summer what Grade 1 wins meant to jockeys like Dougie Costello and Adam Kirby. From the first day you begin to ride a horse, it’s a risky business, a dangerous way to earn a living, but the thrill of riding at speed, of riding winners, of riding winners on better horses spurs us on to take the risks. The star horse pulls the game together.

It’s devastating that just as Tylicki had broken through, his career in the saddle has ended. The tremendous initial response to the fundraising begun by Matt Chapman came from all lovers of the sport.

The wider racing family is extended through having great horses to pull people together and extend it out from those in direct participation. We’re all onside to remember and come to aid those who paid a heavy price for our enjoyment.

The horses that are at the core of the whole thing. Stick an old black and white racing photo up on twitter and there will be someone who recognise the horse from decades ago.

They unite those who watch them, bet on them, look after them, and endure the risks of riding them at speed. If everyone who enjoyed an uplifting moment through cheering on a favoured horse this season gave their winning to the Injured Jockeys Funds, it’s an appropriate gesture.

Sprinter Sacre has come and gone. Come Cheltenham there will be new stars to applaud and stir the spirit while Freddy Tylicki still recovers the pieces of his very different life.

We can take a moment to indulge in individual sadness over one loss but unite in continued support for those who need it for the much longer road ahead.