The message I received from John Hunt shows what a man he is – we are all here to support him at this terrible time

Oh, Hunty. Words will mean little to you now. But everyone is here to help you. Anytime, any day or night.

It won’t ease the pain. But here is a family for you who loves you, just like those who are close to you now, your mother and your daughter Amy.

This column comes days after my friend and colleague, commentator John Hunt, discovered that his wife, Carol, and daughters Hannah and Louise had been killed at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

When I heard the news, I felt numb and shed many tears. I’m sure many of you have done this.

I later messaged on X that ‘no words needed for what happened to @huntycaller’.

I stand by that.

But how could I write a column today and simply ignore such a tragedy? Impossible.

On Wednesday, the day after the alleged murders, I sent Hunty a brief message.

I didn’t expect an answer. But I got one.

“Thanks Matty, all the love back to you xx.”

In that short sentence, everything you need to know about John Hunt shines through.

Caring, loving, attentive.

Also a little cheeky! Hunty is the only person who calls me Matty. He always makes me laugh. He also always makes me smile, even when I’m complaining about something to him.

Hunty brilliantly conveys everything he is saying. He is the best professional. A happy soul.

This inner joy emanates from your love for so many things. West Ham, racing and karaoke to name just three. But most of all it comes from family.

On several occasions I called Hunty about a shift change or something equally trivial, and when he answered the house there was always noise.

Family having fun together or John in the garden. He is the family man every person dreams of.

I believe he also has all the attributes that mean he will muster the strength to get through this to the best of his ability.

Of course, it’s impossible to predict how anyone would react to this week’s events. But I believe John feels our love.

He also has his surviving daughter Amy and her mother as an empathetic family unit.

For most of us it is impossible to understand what makes a human being do what he did this week.

Be that as it may, having no value in human life – being an absolute sociopath – is very difficult for most of us to comprehend.

Thank God that’s the case.

As a human race, we should just try harder to love and be kind. To respect. And hope beyond hope that the suffering caused to Hunty and her family this week is never repeated. Please God.

Of course, as far as racing goes it’s a big weekend and under normal circumstances no one would be more excited than Hunty about the Group 1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket and then England in the Euro Final to 8pm on Sunday.

If on top form, I can think of no reason why Inisherin wouldn’t destroy his 11 rivals in the six-furlong race that is the July Cup.

Guineas sixth place in 2000 was excellent at Sandy Lane at Haydock and even better in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

The older 5f/6f sprinters are far from a vintage group and this seems fitting for a young sprinter on the rise.

Kevin Ryan’s Inmate is just that. Tom Eaves takes the lead and should get a nice lead at the end with plenty of pace at the front.

Of his rivals, it will be fascinating to see how Vandeek fares. He was poor in Sandy Lane, but was a teenager who went to Middle Park for the Crisfords.

This will show us if he has trained, but he will need to have done so as Inisherin is very good.

Elsewhere, at York, it’s one of the big stakes races of the season in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap over an extended mile and a quarter. Boy, is this hard!

My each-way selection is Kingfisher King for William Haggas and Oisin Orr. I assume this horse’s handicap mark was saved for this race as he comes off the 96 mark for the first time.

This may be generous as he ran lightly and started on handicaps at 100 and lost 1lb when last seen for a defeat over 1m6f. It’s possible he simply didn’t stay that day.

Lots to think about. Hunty, however, is at the top of the list.