Rumours abound in the political world of a number of plots to replace David Cameron as Conservative leader.

Saddled with paranoia, the prime minister is reported to be nursing a rather severe crick in his neck due to constantly looking over his shoulder.

Whilst many view a change of leadership before the 2015 general election as jumping the gun, others see the pre-budget posturing of Theresa May, Philip Hammond and Liam Fox as a sure sign they intend to challenge the PM.

In honour of this week's Cheltenham Festival, the Huffington Post UK has compiled a list of top runners and riders, each hoping to jockey themselves into position and whip the party into shape...

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  • Theresa May

    Current position: Home Secretary Rides: "Beyond The Borders" Odds to win: 4/1 For: Politically, May is a shrewd and successful operator who has done a credible job as home secretary, a role that has tripped up many previous politicians. Against: A Tory minister recently described May as "100% charmless" and the only benefit that her appointment as leader would bring would be "net migration".

  • Boris Johnson

    Current position: Mayor of London Rides: "Bumbling Oratory" Odds to win: 5/1 For: Boris is rarer thing than a <a href="http://www.sugarbushdrafthorse.com/revival.html">Sugarbush Draft Horse,</a> he's a "popular Tory". An <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/07/boris-johnson-preferred-to-david-cameron_n_1945895.html">opinion poll last October</a> outed him as the people's choice to replace Cameron. Unfortunately, it's not up to the people... Against: Johnson has all but ruled out taking over from Cameron before 2015, wary that undermining him could scupper any leadership hopes. Just like what happened to Lord Heseltine in the wake of Margaret Thatcher stepping down...

  • Michael Gove

    Current position: Secretary of State for Education Rides: "Baccalaureate Backtrack" Odds to win: 9/1 For: Gove is highly regarded within the Tory party as charming, polite and capable. Against: He has taken a bruising both from the public and other Tories for some of his proposals as Secretary of State for Education.

  • Philip Hammond

    Current position: Defence Secretary Rides: "Stripped Down Defender" Odds to win: 10/1 For: Erm... Against: Recently received a "slapping down" from Danny Alexander for publicly complaining about defence cuts. Also, he's possibly the most "beige" of all the prospective candidates.

  • Adam Afriyie

    Current position: MP for Windsor Rides: "Outside Upstart" Odds to win: 25/1 For: Afriyie is part of the new generation of Tories with fewer qualms about toppling their leader. One Tory minister said: "<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9916975/Tories-too-afraid-of-fresh-chaos-for-leadership-coup.html">They don't have the same memory or experience to hold them back</a>. "And if they start to think they're going to lose their seats at the election, they could get a bit panicked." Against: Was widely ridiculed earlier this year when the relative unknown was tipped for a leadership challenge. Also, no-one seems to have told him about his own challenge until he read about it in the papers and "<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/31/adam-afriyie-pm-in-waiting">nearly choked on my Cornflakes</a>".

  • Liam Fox

    Current position: Rides: "Spend Wisely" Odds to win: 33/1 For: Dr Fox has become the unofficial spokesman for those Tories disaffected with the current leadership with a number of public statements criticising their direction on austerity. Against: Is it really a good move to appoint someone who was forced to resign from his job as defence minister for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/10/09/liam-fox-resigns_n_1002156.html">allowing a close friend improper access to the highest level of government affairs?</a> Additionaly, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/11/liam-fox-tory-leadership_n_2851902.html">Fox recently said</a>: "I think there is no chance of us having a leadership election in the Conservative Party before the election, I think that would be madness."