THE first interview with J.T. McNamara, penned with predictable finesse by Alastair Down last Sunday, was one of the talking points of the week.

Alongside the depiction of incredible human courage and spirit, one image stuck in the mind.

The contribution by A.P. McCoy contained the reflection: “I can still see his clothes hanging on his peg with his shirt on top, and realising he would never be coming back into the weighroom.”

Watching the carnage in the maiden hurdle at Thurles on Thursday, which resulted in a few bad injuries for Mark Walsh, was a further reminder of the risks jockeys take in the pursuit of an everyday living.

Would your star footballer risk any injury in the weeks before a Cup Final or Champions League Final? Some chance.

We should never take for granted that those who leave will return in the same shape they left.

Let’s hope for an injury free run-in to the Festival for all riders.