Carruthers, the star of Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, is on course for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup – providing the going is suitable.
Connections have given the seven-year-old the provisional go-ahead to tackle big guns Kauto Star and Denman in chasing’s blue riband on Friday, March 19 as long as there is some cut in the ground.
Bradstock’s wife, Sara, explained: “We won’t make a complete decision until we know what the ground is going to be. At the moment it is looking very much like Carruthers’ type of ground.
“We would not run him on fast ground. There would be no point and then we would bypass Cheltenham altogether because there is nothing else for him there.
“All being well he will go for the Gold Cup, but it is ground dependent. It will have to be good to soft or softer.
“We are not saying if Kauto Star is on form we can beat him, but who knows what can happen.
“Denman has definitely got holes in him, and the rest you would be happy to take on.”
Carruthers is generally a 50-1 chance for the Gold Cup.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here