THE new point-to-point season starts on January 3 and the region's major stables will be hoping for success.

For Clive and Eileen Bennet (Dymock), last year's stars Fertile Valley and Balinova remain at their family farm on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border and the latter looks a top class prospect for this season.

Greensleeves should improve for Polly Gundry's presence in the saddle while Kathakali's first runs will indicate what potential he has between the flags, although he did win five races on the flat and scored a 66-1 shock in a two mile hurdle at Worcester in the summer of 2003.

The quartet is completed by I Am Said I, who won four races for David Pipe during 2004 and will be running in Hunter Chases for his new connections.

At Nicky Sheppard's Eastnor stables, Upton Adventure won eight races for owner Peter Corbett last year. It is probably expecting too much for her to repeat that feat in 2005, although she enjoys a virtual monopoly of ladies races in the area - so one never knows.

Stablemate Upton Crusader has a lot to prove but could not be in a better training establishment. The Sheppards have six new horses this year including Hades de Sienne, a Raymond Anderson Green cast-off which won an Ayr Chase in November 2001, and Ned Cecil's Fanion de Neulliac, who won at Punchestown for previous trainer Arthur Moore.

Rhys Jenkins has acquired It's the Boss, while Ashgar (ex-Mikey Hammond selling hurdler) and Little Ora (successful at Downpatrick and Sligo) join Wellburn Boy carrying the colours of Lucy Allfrey. The Bean Club's Lost in the Snow was a big disappointment in Ireland, where he ran 11 times for one placing and that remark also applies to Orient Boy, who has gained just two placings from 26 outings under Rules.

At Tim Stephenson and Angie Bevan's Castlemorton yard, Wind on the Common won two races for the stable during 2004 and there are hopes that Force Ten will be able to emulate his half brother this year.

Their dam took 24 attempts to open her account while Wind on the Common took 13, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Force Ten in the future. A Proper Charlie finished second in an Upper Sapey Maiden but that was the only trace of form he showed.

His four-year-old half-sister Kates Ellie could make her debut this year and we will have a better indication of her ability after a couple of runs. New Lodge Express and Ski Pass have been joined by the ex-Noel Meade-trained Arctic Cherry, who was placed a couple of times over fences in Ireland. Justadream ran well in Restricteds during 2004, which indicates that he should be capable of winning a similar event his year.

Janet Hughes' Castlemorton stables has Cider Man, who ran just once during 2004 when chasing home Fertile Valley at Chaddesley, so The Footsy may provide this stable with their best winning opportunity during the coming months. Rocket Radar is approaching veteran status although his relentless gallop and precise jumping will stand him in good stead against younger rivals.

Fane Counsel has left Sheila Crow's yard in the north-west and will be campaigned during 2005 by ex-NH trainer Andy Hobbs, who is now based at Hanley Castle.

Clive Hitchings' youngster won his first two races but his subsequent performances left a lot to be desired, which connections attributed to sore shins but this problem has now been rectified.

The Brooklet will benefit from last year's experiences, which included success in a Maisemore Maiden, while Fontain Again returns from a spell on the sidelines, as does Jarode. Like The Brooklet, Springbrook Girl is also home bred by Alderbrook and this one showed signs of promise when three lengths third in an Exeter hurdle.

Saint Reverien has run nine times and been placed in five of those runs, so should benefit from the drop in class, while Royal Jake, who is owned by Hitchings' son Charles, should figure prominently in hunter chases.

With Roy Shail at Hollybush, the home-bred quartet of Maggie's Brother, Rusty Fellow, Raymond James and Golden Embers are still there and there should be at least one winner from this quartet in 2005.

Almost a Day took a long time to win a Maiden and struggled last year, while newcomers Dashing Jim and Cherry Brandy could be anything.

The latter had the distinction of being bred by the Queen Mother and won his Bumper impressively, but things have gone down hill since.

2005 Fixtures. February 13: Harkaway Club at Chaddesley Corbett; March 5: Duke of Beaufort at Didmarton; March 13: Cotswold at Andoversford; March 28: North Cotswold at Paxford; March 29: Croome & West Warwickshire at Upton-upon-Severn; April 3: Ledbury at Maisemore Park; April 10: Cotswold Vale at Andoversford; April 16: Worcestershire at Chaddesley Corbett; April 23: Berkeley at Woodford; May 2: North Ledbury at Maisemore Park; May 8: Wheatland at Chaddesley Corbett; May 21: Clifton on Teme at Upper Sapey; May 30: Albrighton Woodland at Chaddesley Corbett.