Just three runners will go to post for Tuesday's Betfred "Goals Galore" Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury but all of them are of significant promise, none more so than the unbeaten Barters Hill.
Hailing from the yard of Ben Pauling, the five-year-old won on each of his four bumper outings last term, beating the Willie Mullins-trained Bellshill at Aintree, while Nicky Henderson's pair of Altior and Buveur D'Air at Newbury, who have both made a big splash over hurdles already this season, were behind him at Newbury.
Barters Hill kicked off his hurdles career at Huntingdon in early November, when he adopted his usual front-running role before finding for pressure to eventually win by 14 lengths.
Dan Skelton's North Hill Harvey was second that day and has subsequently won at Cheltenham, giving Pauling plenty of confidence ahead of this switch up to Grade One company.
Only Denman has won the Challow and gone on to victory at the Cheltenham Festival in the same season in recent years, but classy types like Fingal Bay, Diamond Harry and Reve De Sivola all feature on the roll of honour.
"Barters Hill is in great form and I could not be happier with him," said Pauling.
"We know he handles soft ground and I think he will be able to handle whatever is thrown at him.
"It was a huge form boost to see North Hill Harvey win as he did at Cheltenham. He did make a mistake at the second-last at Huntingdon but I think Barters Hill would have beaten him comfortably no matter what.
"Alan King's horse that won at Sandown (Label Des Obeaux) looks to have a nice, progressive profile but we are happy to take on whatever comes our way."
Label Des Obeaux was a maiden in France but after finishing a promising second at Ascot on his British debut, he finally broke his duck at the 13th attempt at Sandown in Grade Two company.
King told his official website: "He is only a four-year-old, but he was impressive when landing his Grade Two at Sandown and he seems to handle soft ground.
"His work at home in early autumn was awful, but he then ran well at Ascot before delivering in style at Sandown just 13 days later, so we hope he might improve still further."
The third and final runner is the Paul Nicholls-trained Politologue, another French import for owner John Hales. He made his British debut in the race won by North Hill Harvey and still held every chance when he unseated Sam Twiston-Davies on the run to the final flight.
"He was very unfortunate at Cheltenham last time after travelling very well despite a 10lb penalty, but he slightly jinked and unseated Sam going to the last hurdle," Nicholls told Betfair.
"He'd have obviously gone very close and would have been involved in the finish. He's a high-class horse and we'll mind him with the future in mind, he's very much one for the future and one I like."