By Cornelius Lysaght BBC horse racing correspondent

As the action gets into full swing, here are six horses I think it will pay to follow during the 2004-05 National Hunt season.

AZERTYUIOP (Paul Nicholls, Somerset)
As brilliant a jumper of fences as his name is unpronounceable and unspellable, Azertyuiop produced the best performance seen last season, ironically in defeat.

That was when shouldering just over 1� stones more than the excellent Isio in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, and going down only in a thrilling photo finish.

Although subsequently aided by the late departure of old rival Moscow Flyer in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, he would probably have won anyway.

With a brilliant win on his return at Exeter and Moscow Flyer prone to the occasional lapse, Azertyuiop looks set for another lucrative season testing broadcasters' tongues and journalists' spell checks.

BEEF OR SALMON (Michael Hourigan, Co Limerick)
Okay, this old favourite was beaten on his seasonal debut, but, in the scheme of things, a race staged in September has little relevance.

Without setting the world alight, the premier Irish steeplechaser of his type demonstrated his well-being, and he continues to look a potent force.

In two attempts at wrestling the Cheltenham Gold Cup from three-times winner Best Mate, Beef Or Salmon has been fourth (2004), and a faller, the season before.

A frequent runner, so well worth supporting in any Horses To Follow competition, he is now ready to garnish even the grandest of menus.

KNOWHERE (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Naunton, Gloucestershire)
No list of horses to follow is complete without one trained by the in-form Twiston-Davies stable, and the tough and resilient Knowhere is my choice.

He followed up a facile victory at Hexham, with a brave success in testing conditions at Chepstow, and is one that can gallop rewardingly all through the season.

OMNI COSMO TOUCH (Sue Smith, Bingley, West Yorkshire)
All sorts of rude things have been said in the past about Omni Cosmo Touch, the winner of two point-to-points and a hunter chase early in the year.

But he behaved impeccably at Wetherby on his debut in novice chases, and would have bolted up but for over- jumping and falling at the testing fourth last.

Now with the Smiths, and with access to the skills of the long-legged jockey Dominic Elsworth - who's superb on steeplechasers - he is worth many more chances.

PUNTAL (Martin Pipe, Wellington, Somerset)
As soon as Puntal sprung a 25-1 shock in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown, on the final day of the last jumps season, I backed him for the 2005 Grand National.

Admittedly, the exuberant (when in the mood) jumper did unseat his rider near halfway when rated a no-hoper in the Aintree feature last April.

But up to that point he had so looked the part, showing real verve, and was amongst the leaders when depositing jockey Danny Howard on the Merseyside turf.

Aintree looks as though it may be the course to bring out the best in this occasional so-and-so.

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE (Steve Gollings, Louth, Lincolnshire)
With progressively good wins at Sedgefield, Doncaster and Aintree, and a narrowly beaten second place at Ireland's Punchestown Festival, Royal Shakespeare is a rising star.

More improvement can be expected, and scripts that include a crack at the Champion Hurdle will contain no ridiculous plot lines.