THE 2004 point-to-point season starts next weekend and each year the sport produces horses that go on to become household names under National Hunt Rules.

Will this year produce a successor to last season's leading hunter chase and point-to-pointer Kingscliff, who is likely to be challenging for Gold Cup honours in March?

Stable previews.

Mike Daniell's - Upton-upon-Severn:

Upton-upon-Severn based Mike Daniell has been busy preparing three horses for his near neighbour Sue Troughton. Smile Pleaze and Run to the Glen both ran consistently last year and success for the former would be particularly pleasing for the trainer after recent comments in a well-known form book.

Daniell's will be hoping to make it three out of four for Troughton with their new acquisition Kuwait Faith who won a modern Garnons Maiden for Tim Stephenson prior to his purchase at Ascot in July.

The evergreen Kingsthorpe has been retired by Mervyn Jones who also had the misfortune to lose Musical Tassell during the close season.

Cosmic Flight has been purchased as a replacement and must have a chance of making the frame in points on the evidence of finishing third in a bumper for Noel Chance, although he showed nothing for Norman Babbage afterwards.

Nicky Sheppard - Eastnor:

There are a number of stables based in the Malvern area and all achieved differing degrees of success during 2003. Nicky Sheppard's yard at Eastnor was one of the more successful ones but this was due to the exploits of her stable star Upton Adventure who was never out of the first two in nine outings, winning six races in all.

Peter Corbett has done well with this home bred mare and will be hoping that some of this success rubs off on an unnamed five-year-old by Cruise Missile out of Spartan City who won ten races for Corbett between 1989 and 1994.

Aztec Rule provided The Bean Club with two successes last year and while some people are predicting that he will struggle in better class company the trainer is confident that she can secure another victory before the season is over.

Ard Na Carrig and Wellburn Boy are likely to be used as schoolmasters while Rhys Jenkins will be renewing acquaintances with Wildblade. Simon Geggs' Allez Tojours had his limitations exposed under rules although he did finish third in a Uttoxeter Novices Hurdle in November 2002 and may be better suited to this less competitive arena.

Due to the owners and trainers previous successes together, punters probably had too high expectations of Lord Woodyard last year but with the benefit of that experience under his belt he may well spring a surprise.

Tim Stephenson - Castlemorton:

Most of Tim Stephenson's winners have been secured in the Welsh border area over the last two years, but he still enjoys considerable success in the West Midlands with runners from his base at Castlemorton.

The names of Wind on the Common, New World Comet, Kalahari Ferrari, Just a Dream, Force Tean and Southern Cross do not strike fear into their rivals on the racecourse but all of them have the ability to make the frame in their respective races. Based on their National Hunt form Greenkeys could prove better than Terimons Dream, both horses having been purchased by Bob Dance during the close season.

New Lodge Express is another new name as is Rosegrove Rooster who failed to make the grade with his previous trainer Dennis Carol. Tenth of 17 in a Selling Hurdle does not inspire confidence for a future in point to pointing but A Proper Charlie does have one thing in his favour.

Stephenson partnered his dam Kates Girl to numerous successes in the late 1908s and early 1990s so the trainer knows the family and improvement may well be forthcoming.

Janet Hughes - Castlemorton:

Janet Hughes and Roy Shail are near neighbours on Castlemorton Common. The former has been busy qualifying old favourites Rocket Radar and Cider Man and their recent Ascot Sales purchase The Footsy could also make an appearance.

Rocket Radar won well at Whitwick last year while Cider Man was not seen out after pulling up at Maisemore. The Footsy is a half brother to Lucky Christopher and that family has always improved as they mature so we may not have seen the best of this one.

Roy Shail - Hollybush: The Shail family achieved a unique feat by running all seven inmates of their Hollybush stable at Maisemore Park in 2003.

Maggies Brother, Rusty Fellow, Raymond James and Golden Embers are all produce of Sallisses and will be bidding to extend that mare's fabulous winning run. Their half sister Sallioko has been retired to the paddocks where she will try to emulate her mother's feats and as a result of that she is currently in foal to Regal Embers.

Shail finally managed to extract a win from Almost a Day after this enigmatic performer finished in the runners-up spot on four previous occasions prior to his success at Bredwardine in May. Given his past history, the horse may have difficulty coping with the opposition at the next level.

Clive Hitchings - Hanley Swan:

Following Jo Tremains departure for pastures new in Devon, Clive Hitchings has resumed responsibility for the pointers in his stables.

Better Future was a Garnons specialist before he was retired after a lacklustre display at the South Hereford last year. There have been indications in recent weeks that connections may have been premature with that decision and he could yet make a farewell appearance to the Members Race at his favourite venue on March 6.

Fontaine Again is out for the season after sustaining an injury at Coldharbour, but Uttoxeter Hunter Chase winner Thatsforeel will once again be carrying Hitching's familiar blue and yellow spotted colours. Jarude ran once last year but could recuperate some of his purchase price this time around while a five-year-old maiden by Alderbrook completes the line up.

Although based in Worcestershire, Hitchings has teamed up with Shropshire trainer Sheila Crow who purchased Fane Counsel after he had won a point to point in Ireland.

It is likely that his appearances will be limited to the north western area.