Ed Chamberlin on worrying times for all and five magic moments during the 2019/20 jumps season

What worrying times these are.

It was sad to see the Racing Post temporarily shut its doors this week and a time to appreciate how fortunate the sport is to have a trade newspaper. My sympathies go out to all its excellent employees in the hope they and the paper come back bigger and stronger in a few weeks’ time.

All of our thoughts right now go out to those who are suffering, the heroic NHS staff that are working so hard to save lives and all those who are working to keep the country functioning.

I’m an ambassador for WellChild who finance the nursing of seriously ill children. This is especially vital work at this time as they are hugely vulnerable and need constant care.

Like with so many charities, funding has now dried up as 60% of their revenue disappeared overnight with the loss of the London Marathon and events such as my golf day. I’m desperate to help and support the Resilience Fund they have set up.

Anything you can do at home to help would be hugely appreciated.

We’ve launched a putting competition with the hashtag #PUTTingWellChildFirst to try and raise awareness and funds - but also to relieve some family boredom.

Please ask young and old to have a go and their putts can be silly, long, short, inside, outside, anything will do. Just please post them on social media using #PUTTingWellChildFirst.

Please donate if you can: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/WellChildResilienceFund

My other big concern at the moment is the welfare of the racing community.

Revenues have dried up everywhere and mental health is a serious worry at this time.

Racing Welfare is a charity that supports the whole of racing’s workforce and they are coping with an increased demand for their services.

Their 24/7 Support Line is open to anyone needing assistance and people can also use a live chat service online if they prefer. The number is 0800 6300 443 or you contact them via live chat online at www.racingwelfare.co.uk,

I’m a trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund and we want to support anyone we can at this time. Don’t forget the IJF is there for anyone who has ever held a riding licence whether that be a full one, apprentice, conditional, amateur, as well as their family and dependants.

The situation is changing by the day and we have regular conference calls to ensure we continue to offer our beneficiaries the best support we can. Anyone looking for support - whether that be financial, medical or pastoral - please, please call one of our rehab centres:

• Oaksey House: 01488674242
• Jack Berry House: 01653 602090
• Peter O'Sullevan House: 01638 676200

Please pick up the phone. We are here to help.

So on to the National Hunt season which came to an abrupt halt after the Cheltenham Festival.

Here are my top five races of the campaign but I’m sure there are others that could – and you might argue – should have made the list. Let me know by sending your own top fives to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com.

5. Lady Buttons - MansionBet At Doncaster Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase

I can’t leave this mare out of the list and what a performance she produced to beat Happy Diva and La Bague Au Roi in a Town Moor thriller. I always emphasise on air how it’s paramount the racing dream is kept alive. Sport is reliant on as[oration. Just look at how the powerhouses dominated the Cheltenham Festival but there was still room at the top table for the likes of It Came To Pass, Lisnagar Oscar and Indefatigable.

Lady Buttons is a beacon for the underdog. She’s owned by a wonderful family, the Sivills, and any win for her is widely celebrated on ITV.

4. Honeysuckle - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

We’d lauded Rachael Blackmore on the opening day of the Festival on ITV including a fantastic feature by the best reporter in sport, Gabriel Clarke. We felt the need to shout from the rooftops that the sport offers a level playing field for men and women to compete against each other. And that in Rachael we have a global superstar who we need to appreciate.

With Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh on the podium I was desperate for the four days to throw up a real tactical battle and we got it here – right from the off. To see an animated Ruby shouting “close the door” as they turned in added to the drama, reminding me of working alongside Gary Neville and him yelling instructions at the Manchester United back four.

Not only was this a wonderful ride from the winning jockey, it inspired some of the best punditry I’ve worked with in my time on television.

3. Lostintranslation - Betfair Chase

The story of his part-owners, the Taylor family, losing their three-year-old son Charlie in tragic circumstances is heartbreaking but somehow this horse has provided them with a little light after such dark times. He races in yellow silks, a tribute to Charlie’s favourite film characters, the Minions.

Having suffered so much sadness they fulfilled a dream by having a runner in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. Lostintranslation did them proud in finishing third and on a week when plenty of the Tizzard horses underperformed, it means another dream of winning a Gold Cup still remains very possible.

2. Defi Du Seuil v Un De Sceaux - Betfair Tingle Creek Chase

My one regret about this contest is the yellow flag incident in the final race on the card, the London National, stealing the headlines. That’s why I’d love the BHA to defer controversial decisions like this one, to take the heat out of the situation and announce punishments on the following Monday.

The back-pages screamed about ten-day bans for seven jockeys. They should have been waxing lyrical about a Tingle Creek of the ages. It was tremendous with the old warrior Un De Sceaux being carried out on his shield, going down all guns blazing to the rising star. It was a contest that showcased everything that is great in our sport.

1. Samcro - Marsh Novices’ Chase

Again a race that showed just how brilliant our sport is – it had the lot. Faugheen was tugging at the heartstrings throughout and even when it became clear he was booked for third after the last, we were treated to an epic battle between Samcro and Melon. The winner and third are names that resonate beyond racing and I defy any sports fan not to have been shouting at their televisions as they thundered up the hill.

Feedback from readers...

Dave Chapman

5 Defi beating Un De Sceaux in their re-match

4 Faugheen winning his beginners chase in Nov

3 Faugheen beating Samcro in Dec

Joint 1st Faugheen winning at this years Dublin Racing Festival & Goshen being robbed of the Triumph.

You may of guessed I love The Machine just as much as my namesake, but the King is now abdicating and I reckon Goshen is ready to take up the mantle - I hope so as his fall cost me a bundle at Cheltenham. As a footnote in my humble opinion what Faugheen has done at 12 is nothing short of remarkable, oh how I wish he had stayed sound throughout his career.

Dave Parker

Hi, my top 5’highlights for the 2019 / 2020 season would be the following in reverse order

No5 - Not so Sleepy at Ascot in the Betfair Exchange Trophy hurdle. Brilliant ride by Johnny Burke pillar to post

No 4 - Supreme Novices' hurdle Cheltenham Shiskin. Race had everything great finish and in running it could have been so different for the winning owner with his other horse jumping so erratically

No 3 - Christmas Hurdle Epatante. If there was any doubt about the winner of the Champion Hurdle in my opinion you didn’t watch this race. And all the pundits who rubbished the champion hurdle should watch this race again. And in my opinion this is why the mares from Ireland went to the mares' race at Cheltenham.

No 2 - RSA Chase Champ. I needed Champ to win to bring up a nice patent bet when the front two went over the last thought hard luck and looked away and my friend shouted 'he's going to win'. I still cannot believe it thank you Barry Geraghty!

No 1 - Gold Cup Al Boum Photo. Great for Willie Mullins and racing. I think Willie spoke to Henrietta Knight and followed what she did with Best Mate! Joking apart, how many years had he waited to win the Gold cup and then two years on the trot good luck to him. Great trainer.

Keep this up please, makes the days go quicker in these troubled times.

Regards, Dave Parker

Joe Smith

I can’t argue at all with your top 5 at all. Great races. Here’s mine. I always choose races that I’m present at on course rather than watched from tv at home.

5. Clan Des Obeaux / King George Nicholls at Christmas . So happy for Sam Twiston Davies

4. Melon / Marsh Chase/ I know he didn’t win but for me his jumping was the standout single jumping performance of the week. Add in Samcro and Faugheen. What a race.

3. Defi vs Uds / Clarence House. Racing needs these rivalries. The anticipation to this was brilliant. Tense. The result however was special. Barry and Defi were equine poetry in motion.

2. Defi vs Uds/ Tingle Creek) a raceday that never disappoints year after year and last year no different.

1. Al Boum Photo / Gold cup History maker. Let’s get behind his bid for a 3rd.

Regards, Joe Smith

Coming up next week...

• Let’s talk about... Tiger Roll
• Let’s talk about... Foinavon
• From the archives: Aintree Bowl
• Dave Ord’s Grand National memories
• Ben Linfoot’s 2020 3yos
• Inside the Industry - Latest from Oli Bell
• Let’s talk about... Devon Loch
• From the archives: Aintree’s finest
• Let’s talk about... Esha Ness
• Ed Chamberlin – Presenting the National
• Let’s talk about... best ever National bet
• My National runner - Oli Bell
• Let’s talk about... Red Rum
• From the archives: Grand National
• How I won the National – Daryl Jacob
• Let’s talk about… What would’ve won this year’s National
• From the archives: Tiger Roll’s Nationals
• Ed Chamberlin – Five favourite Nationals
• VIRTUAL GRAND NATIONAL – April 4