We pick out the early eyecatchers from Saturday's Chepstow card, when the National Hunt season traditionally steps up several gears.
2.12 Champion Hats Juvenile Hurdle
There are generally much stronger juveniles to emerge later into the campaign but some good 'early' types have won this in recent years including Adrien Du Pont and Gumball.
Paul Nicholls has won this five times in the last 10 years and his exciting new recruit Hell Red - more of which can be found here via Mark Howard's fine feature - could be just the type to make a big impression if starting out close to full fitness, while Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton have interesting newcomers too in Overpriced Mixer and Lustleigh respectively.
Of those with experience, Bourbali made a bright start for Colin Tizzard when just denied at Plumpton, but it may be worth giving another chance to Hector De Sivola for Nick Williams. He was far too green to do himself justice when well held at Newton Abbot in July but was sent off 4/5 favourite there and the experience won't be lost on him.
The prospect of much softer ground is another potential plus for the horse representing a yard that does extremely well in this type of event.
2.47 Unibet You'Re On Handicap Hurdle
Ian Williams' Speed Company won this race last year on his return to jumping and is likely to arrive ready once again following two spins on the Flat last month.
He's 7lb higher in the ratings this time around but looks likely to be near the foot of the weights and have conditions to suit.
Keep an eye out for Le Ligerien too. Philip Hobbs' runner found the Cheltenham Festival all too much for him when last sighted in March but had looked progressive previously and is not one to be writing off having reached the ceiling of his ability in terms of handicapping.
He can be keen but the son of Turgeon goes through testing ground particularly well (twice a winner on heavy).
3.22 Native River Handicap Chase
A cracking race in prospect, befitting the title which was introduced last year. Ballyoptic took top spot then and he'll be top weight if lining up 12 months on having gone on to win the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and a Listed handicap chase at Ascot in February.
A mark of 163 looks stiff now and second-season chaser Boldmere looks to have a bit more scope for improvement. His last visit to Chepstow didn't end too well but that was his hurdling debut in 2018 and he's come a long way since then.
He seems to prefer going left-handed which is encouraging while he's a full 12lb higher than when bolting up in a handicap at Doncaster last December, he was subsequently sent off 5/2 favourite for the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.
He's in the right hands with Kim Bailey and looks a fascinating seven-year-old who could go on to scale greater heights.
3.57 Dunraven Windows Novices' Chase
Always an informative event - won by the likes of Cue Card, Fingal Bay, Balder Succes and Finian's Oscar in the last decade - and a tremendous turnout by the look of the five-day entries.
Grade 1-winning hurdlers Fusil Raffles and Fiddlerontheroof are highly exciting and could go right to the top if taking to chasing, while Grand Sancy wasn't far behind them in terms of hurdling ability and he's got some fencing experience too having mixed it between codes last term.
He won at Fontwell in February but remains a novice in this sphere for the time being.
Mont Des Avaloirs has size and scope to improve on what he showed last year - when set some stiff tasks in fairness - and the fact he's 0-4 over fences shouldn't be judged too harshly.
Perhaps the thriving, match-fit Longhouse Sale could have them all in trouble if keeping up his superb jumping. He's enjoyed himself picking up three smaller novice events through July, August and September but the way he goes about his business suggests he's capable of mixing at a higher level.
With a chase mark of 147 already and the prospect of more to come, it's very hard to rule out the Skelton runner no matter when else turns up.
4.32 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
Last year's Silver Trophy threw up nine subsequent individual winners (winning 15 races between them) so is a race to watch, and watch again. There are 34 entered at this stage so a maximus field looks likely.
The 2019 hero Flash The Steel is potentially back for another crack at the prize, while trainer Dan Skelton has also entered Molly Ollys Wishes, who won a mares' novices' hurdle on bad ground at Warwick in January. She's rated 124 and would be making her handicap debut if lining up this weekend.
Fix Sun - another newcomer to the world of handicapping - is the sole representative for Nicky Henderson but now has plenty to prove after being turned over when 1/6 favourite at Fakenham when last seen in mid-February.
Ecco looks to have a lot in his favour, having slid down the weights a bit. It could turn out Paul Nicholls' horse just isn't well handicapped but it's too soon to be making that assumption and he started out last year with wide-margin wins at Wincanton and Ascot.
He beat Gary Moore's Neff on the second of those occasions which isn't bad form at all and Ecco might just be one to catch when fresh with another summer on his back.
5.07 John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase
A few of these are entered elsewhere on the card too so it'll be interesting to see what's declared.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see Nicholls send Mont Des Avaloirs having won it with similar types in Art Mauresque and Romain De Senam (who could run again for the Skeltons this year), but one who might go under the radar is The Bay Birch, who won it last year from an 8lb higher mark.
He came here fresh that day but has had a run this time to put him right and he didn't shape badly at all when third at Warwick late last month, looking to just need it having led two out before being overhauled.
5.42 Wasdell Group Standard Open NH Flat Race
A huge entry for what is traditionally a really good race. Nicholls has won half of the last six editions and has Famoso, Knappers Hill, Stage Star and Wethill to choose from.
Fergal O'Brien's City Derby, a gelded son of Coronation Cup winner Ask, is an obvious one to monitor in the market given his trainer's capabilities in this sphere, and the same applies to Grand Lord, who wasn't entirely disgraced in a Listed bumper at Newbury on his UK debut in February.
He made 65,000 euros last November at the Arqana Autumn sale and looks well up to winning races.
