So will it be The Prancing Horse (Michael Portillo) versus The Walrus (Kenneth Clarke)? Or will The Weasel (Iain Duncan Smith) claim second spot on the final ballot? Does the aristocratic Badger (Michael Ancram) have any real hope? And might The Useless Goldfish yet surprise us?
Nominations close today for the Conservative leadership election. Tory MPs are set to choose next Tuesday from five declared runners: Michael Portillo, Kenneth Clarke, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Ancram and David Davis.
A second round of voting is scheduled for this day week, with a playoff if required the following Tuesday, to determine which two candidates go before the ballot of party members in early September.
There is little doubt which two the media want to see slug it out all the way to the conference season. By their own assessment, certainly, Mr Portillo and Mr Clarke are the only two candidates of first (that is to say possible prime ministerial) rank. Had they had the choice last time it seems the rank and file might have preferred Mr Clarke to Mr Hague. And it seems the front-running Mr Portillo would like to see the former Chancellor on the final ballot. Suspecting this is the choice the members themselves would like, the Portillistas fear any other might leave something of a question mark over the validity of their man's predicted victory.
Not that Mr Clarke sees it that way. The super-confident Europhile is convinced if he can survive the parliamentary primaries the party members will give him the leadership. This, despite the fact that to the last blue rinse they wholeheartedly back the one policy on which the electorate agreed with Mr Hague - keeping the pound.
Mr Clarke had initially questioned whether he really could lead a Eurosceptic party. For the moment he has resolved this in his own mind - arguing that there may not be a referendum anyway; that shadow cabinet members can take whichever side of the argument they wish when the time comes, and that, in any event, the euro will not be the issue on which the next general election will turn.
This may not be as plausible at it first appears. Not only does he share Mr Blair's desire to join the euro, Mr Clarke is impatient for an early referendum, and - once installed as leader - might find it very difficult to curb his enthusiasm. Moreover, on assuming the leadership he would expect the party to abandon its policy of opposition to the Nice Treaty and its profound misgivings about the so-called "European army".
Certainly, Mr Clarke's contention that they could all cheerfully agree to disagree will be put to a much sharper test if he makes it to the final ballot. But at this stage rumour has it some pro-Portillo MPs might actually back Mr Clarke to help him see off the champion of the Thatcherite right, Mr Duncan Smith.
If they are really choosing a potential prime minister, however, they might reflect on an intriguing ICM focus group survey for last week's Sunday Tele- graph. And if they do, they might conclude the final choice should be between James Bond (also Mr Portillo) and The Gameshow Host (Mr Davis).
First off, they would discard Mr Duncan Smith who - while deemed healthy looking and caring - suffered the seeming kiss-of-death by being found to resemble "William Hague's father." The fatherly Earl of Ancram came across as a good talker, authoritative, humourous. But (when asked which animal he would represent) floating voters decided "a badger or a fox" - because while his face smiles his eyes do not.
In the televisual age it seems Mr Clarke's unkempt image tells against him. "A belly" is one description of the "charismatic" former chancellor also considered "a posh version of John Prescott". Crucially - and surprisingly this perception was held by older voters surveyed - Mr Clarke was seen as "yesterday's man".
Experts say Mr Davis, on the other hand, probably suffered the "useless goldfish" label because people didn't recognise him.
However, he came across as an American presidential-type candidate, or a gameshow host. Among the attributes viewers find in the latter apparently are an easy, friendly, witty manner, the ability to engage and entertain, and good looks, combined with an air of authority and "being in charge". Similar attributes, in fact, to those voters like in a prime minister.
Enter Mr Portillo: another Tony Blair, chameleon, seeming strong and understanding and, "looking the part". Unfussed about his Spanish pedigree or gay past (in contrast to their seniors) young voters thought he might have been James Bond in another life.
Interpreted by the experts this implied a force for good, a man invariably on the right side, and one who always gets his way.