Have to say I'm of a different mind here, the approach (to go chasing) suggests that winning prizes over fences is more prestigious than winning over hurdles, I totally accept that the Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the season but I also believe that winning the Champion Hurdles or Stayers Hurdle championship is an equal achievement to a champion chase.
Winning a Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Arkle and a Champion Chase isn't, for me, a better achievement than winning 3 Champion Hurdles or 3 Stayers hurdles.
Yes the stayers division has been poor for a while but those old enough will remember the likes of Ingles Drever, Big Bucks and Baracouda will appreciate the talent those horses had, they didn't need to win chase championships to earn legend status.
I just think there's a massive bias towards chasing in National Hunt racing and not enough respect is given to our hurdlers...