Carruthers, the star of Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, is set to sidestep a clash with Denman at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The seven-year-old, an impressive winner at Newbury last time out, is among 11 entries for the Argento Chase, which has also attracted the 2008 Gold Cup winner.
Paul Nicholls, Denman’s trainer, has indicated that his superstar could well run on Saturday.
And on Monday night Bradstock said in that case he may look at giving Carruthers his next outing in either a three-mile handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday, February 6 or in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday, February 13. He said: “I spoke to Paul Nicholls this morning and he is slightly planning on going there at the moment.
“If that is the case then we might go to Sandown or the Aon.
“We all have to take on Denman at some stage, but I don’t want to have too harder a race at this stage of the season if one is planning on running back at Cheltenham, which is still up in the air.”
Madison Du Berlais, Barbers Shop and Money Trix are also among Saturday’s entry.
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