It's another dry day at Mark Bradstock’s Old Manor House stables at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage.

To many this would be heaven sent after one of the bleakest winters for many years.

But when you train the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup outsider Carruthers, it’s not good news.

For the seven-year-old has proved most effective in testing conditions, and if there isn’t any cut in the ground come Friday, he could be pulled out of a clash with the mighty Kauto Star and Denman.

Arriving at the picturesque yard, the conversation inevitably centres on the weather.

Bradstock’s wife, Sara, and Alan Waller, one of Carruthers’ ten-strong sporting band of owners, are already deep in discussion about the elements.

Sara is at least encouraged that Cheltenham can water the course not just in the lead up to the meeting, but also once the action gets under way.

The mid-morning peace is broken by laughter as the trainer returns to the yard from riding out.

Now it’s time to tack up Carruthers – a best-priced 50-1 chance – for a canter.

Waller, who lives at Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire, near to Carruthers’ owner-breeder and syndicate head Lord Oaksey, seems awestruck as we look on.

“It is a complete fairy-tale,” he says. “Like having your son play for England in the World Cup or in a Test match.

“To actually have a horse that deserves to run in the Gold Cup . . . it is a dream.”

Carruthers, who was bred out of Lord Oaksey’s mare, Plaid Maid, following a covering by dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Kayf Tara, poses for a few pictures, before heading off to the gallops with Sara aboard.

Following on in Mark’s Land Rover, we pass nearby St Michael’s churchyard, which provides a reminder of the stable’s rich Gold Cup history.

Owen Anthony, who trained Golden Miller from the Old Manor House to win the fifth of his Gold Cups in 1936 and also Roman Hackle to take chasing’s blue riband in 1940, is buried here.

Up on the downs, Carruthers, with his muscles rippling and his coat gleaming in the spring sunshine, stretches out ahead of Super Villain and Radetsky March.

“He is never going to be a big, robust horse,” says Mark. “But he is so athletic.”

It seems Carruthers, who will again be partnered by Mattie Batchelor on Friday, has thrived since his last run – a gallant second to the classy Taranis in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham at the end of January.

“For the last three weeks at about nine o’clock at night we have given him an extra bowl of feed,” adds Mark. “He is eating that well. Sara is sometimes riding him out twice a day and he is absolutely loving it.”

Waller’s thoughts return to the weather. “In a perfect world we want it wet,” he says.

It was like that at Newbury at the end of December when the bay gelding slammed Big Fella Thanks – the Grand National ante-post favourite – by an impressive 23 lengths in heavy ground.

Carruthers has now stopped to a walk, and Mark is delighted with what he has seen.

“That looked fab,” he shouts through the window to Sara, who replies: “He feels great, really good.”

Back down in the village, his pride and joy cools off his legs in the watercress beds.

The talk again turns to the ground at Prestbury Park, and Mark says he plans to walk the course today.

He then delivers his assessment of the Gold Cup “You have obviously got two ways of looking at it – starting with Denman,” he reasons. “Is he going to turn up like he was in the Hennessy is anyone’s guess.

“You have then got Kauto Star – his King George performance was exceptional and he will be very hard to beat. There is no getting away from it – he is a serious machine.

“Cooldine has probably been a bit disappointing since he won the RSA, but I think he probably wants decent ground.

“So you are probably looking at Kauto Star, Cooldine and Denman probably in that order. Imperial Commander is also a real danger.”

So where does Carruthers fit into the Gold Cup conundrum?

“I think he is probably one of the leading candidates of the second-season novices, judging on his form,” says Mark.

“His form stands up really well. Even the horse that beat us at Cheltenham [Taranis] had won a Ryanair [Chase], so he is no mug.

“It is going to be a hell of a task, but stranger things have happened. A drop of rain would not go amiss, but it will be fun.”

It will be Bradstock’s first Gold Cup runner.

And he adds: “I am really looking forward to it. I obviously will be unbelieavably nervous on the day, but he is in very good form and we have just got to put the finishing touches to him.”

Back in his box, Carruthers doesn’t seem to know what all the fuss is about.

“He is absolutely brilliant,” says Mark as his charge makes some strange noises by sucking his lips while being washed down.

A happy horse on course for his greatest challenge. If only there is some rain . . .