Carruthers will be out to exploit any chinks in the armour of the big guns in tomorrow’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old, trained by Mark Bradstock at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, made much of the running in chasing’s blue riband last year before finishing a gallant fourth behind Imperial Commander and runner-up Denman.

Bradstock’s wife, Sara, who rides out the bay gelding in all his work, is under no illusions that the odds are stacked against the 66-1 outsider again this year.

“Carruthers is in good form,” she said. “But we are not going to get it wet, so he can show his best form.

“I am not pretending we are going to beat Imperial Commander or one or two of the others, but we can hope they don’t have their best days.

“We would like the ground to be softer and there is a bit of rain forecast on Friday, but that might end up working against us as they may stop watering on Thursday night.

“He is what he is and he will be there to take advantage of anyone who is not at their best.

“In very soft ground he would have a chance of winning it, but realistically there are likely to be one or two too good for us.”

Carruthers will be reunited with the fit-again Mattie Batchelor, who is again expected to have his mount in the firing line.

“We are going to make it a true test of stamina,” said Sara. “We have to make it as he doesn’t have that turn of foot.”

Carruthers has run three times this season, finishing sixth in both the United House Gold Cup at Ascot and the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, before taking fourth spot in Haydock’s totesport.com Grand National Trial last month.

“At Haydock it was too testing for him and he didn’t really see out the three and a half miles in that extreme ground,” added Sara.

“He will get stronger again. He is from a very late maturing family, but he would be nearly at his prime.”

The Bradstocks are also due to be represented tomorrow by long shot Radetsky March, who tackles the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The eight-year-old, who will be ridden by Jason Maguire, has won at Huntingdon and Warwick this term.