Lydia Hislop BBC racing pundit

Lord Sam (Victor Dartnall)
Doubts about his jumping came to fruition in the Charlie Hall Chase, but there's plenty of learning time between now and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. This progressive and game horse can topple Best Mate.

Macs Joy (Jessica Harrington)
The Swinton Hurdle winner made a smooth reappearance to beat Brave Inca in November and can progress to Champion Hurdle class for trainer Jessica Harrington, winning the Tote Gold Trophy en route.

Meryl (Guillaume Macaire)
French trainer Guillaume Macaire regularly crosses the Channel with some class acts and this rangy horse was noted running on strongly in juvenile hurdles last season. Can be a force in novice chases this term and perhaps a successor to his late stablemate, Jair Du Cochet.

Patriarch Express (Sue Smith)
Brought along beautifully by former trainer Geoff Harker, this horse is open to improvement for handler Sue Smith over hurdles. Yet it may be novice chasing - a discipline at which his new yard excels - that brings out the best in him.

Royal Rosa (Howard Johnson)
Not many jump horses make a 340,000gns price-tag look like a sound investment, but this highly progressive hurdler is one of them. His threatening second to Iris's Gift at Aintree in April signalled that he can be this season's champion staying hurdler.

Tipsy Mouse (Sue Smith)
Last season's Scottish National fourth can continue to progress through the staying-chaser ranks. A promising return at Carlisle in October was his first step towards Grand National glory at Aintree in April.