Carruthers staked his claim for a trip to the Cheltenham Festival with a facile victory at Fakenham yesterday.

Sent off the 2-11 favourite, the six-year-old, trained by Mark Bradstock at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, made virtually all the running to land the beginners’ chase over an extended three miles.

Carruthers was beaten two lengths by the well-regarded What A Friend on his jumping debut, but after taking command soon after the first fence he was barely out of a canter under Mattie Batchelor.

After a solid round of the jumping, he crossed the line 29 lengths clear of Ballyboley, and was cut to 25-1 from 33s for the RSA Chase by William Hill.

Bradstock’s wife, Sara, said: "He came back with some sore muscles after his last run which is why he has had some time off.

"We came here for an easy race to let him have a good school round before taking on the big boys.

"He'll have one more race before Cheltenham, and where he goes will depend on the ground."