The problem with a positive outcome is that it sometimes causes a new set of challenges.
That's where South Island jumps racing sits despite a winter jumping season that has shown signs of promise so far.
Hurdlers have been prominent this season, particularly at Wingatui and Phar Lap Raceway, where nominations for the hurdles at those meetings have been just shy of 20.
But, as national jumps co-ordinator Andre Klein explains, that has forced the clubs to split the nominations three ways rather than twice.
''The biggest issue facing the South Island is the lack of registered jumps jockeys, so [the clubs] haven't had the ability to run an 11-horse maiden,'' Klein said.
''We haven't got the number of riders domiciled down here to fill the riding obligations on the horses, so we've ended up splitting them.''
That happened at Wingatui on May 31, for example. The decision drew some debate, although many favoured the solution, which gave a run to all horses who nominated even if smaller fields were the outcome.
''That's detrimental to the betting turnover and that's certainly jumping's biggest battle.''
The fortnightly racing opportunities for jumping horses is working well but handicapping remains a challenge, particularly in the slim steeplechasing ranks, where open-class 'chasers are taking on maiden jumpers.
Maiden steeplechasing mares have little incentive to take on the larger fences, as they cannot carry below the minimum weight of 65kg in the restricted open grade, and miss out on their 2kg mares' claim.
''That restricted a couple of horses lining up on occasion, because they felt they were being poorly treated by the current handicapping system.''
However, Klein understands the plan to keep the good horses jumping for as long as possible.
''The current policy of NZTR - and it's not necessarily a bad one - is to keep it competitive for the good horses so they don't get handicapped out of being competitive too quickly.''
The situation of maiden 'chasers taking on open-class jumpers has forced officials to seek a common ground.
''You're going to upset the owners of the good horses, or risk seeing the lower-grade horses drop out of the system really quickly.''
The open hurdling ranks have looked strong this year, but that means the one-win hurdlers have a big task when they jump up from the maiden grade.
''Right now we've got a good strong batch of open hurdlers. For a one-win hurdler taking on the open hurdlers, they're getting smashed and demoralised pretty quickly and that's an issue in itself.''
The numbers might be small in some cases, but there has been one other bright spot - there have been no falls at fences. In fact, the only incident that caused jockeys to fall off came at Timaru on June 12 when horses clipped heels on the flat.
A forum for jumps racing participants will be held next Thursday in Christchurch as part of Grand National Week. One possibility was an extra South Island jumping date after Grand National Week, Klein said.
