Few better sights than a great hurdler in full flow - so why discourage it?
One of the most exciting elements of each jumps season is seeing which new stars emerge from the novice hurdling division. The untapped potential and the mystery about who is going to emerge as a top-class performer gets the juices flowing. Was there anything more impressive on the track last weekend than Constitution Hill at Sandown? Not for my money.
But in the aftermath of such displays we are all too regularly treated to soundbites from the victorious trainer proclaiming the winner as a lovely chaser for next year, rather than focusing on their obvious current abilities.
A year over hurdles is regarded as little more than a stepping stone and it is almost seen as a badge of failure for a horse to remain or return to that discipline in preference to a career over fences.
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