Carruthers faces a crucial workout on trainer Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett gallops, near Wantage, today ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, bred and co-owned by Lord Oaksey, is reported to have taken time to recover from the rough race he had when finishing sixth behind Massini’s Maguire on his reappearance in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot last month.

However, Bradstock’s wife, Sara, said the Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth was showing the right signs again.

“He got very knocked around in that race at Ascot where everything kept jumping into him,” she explained.

“He’s taken a bit of time to come right. He does seem to be fine now, but it will very much depend on him working well and scoping well.

“I think he was battered physically and mentally.”

With top weight Denman set to bid for a record third win in the race, Carruthers would be running from 1lb out of the handicap.

And Sara added: “There are lots of horses out of the handicap. I think it could be a strange Hennessy.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Tinkler will be aboard leading fancy Burton Port.

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson said on Monday that Barry Geraghty could take the ride, but that would have meant him carrying overweight as the Irishman is unable to ride at the gelding’s allotted weight of 10st.

Tinkler said: “It’s a brilliant ride to get. I rode a winner on him last year and Denman being in the race has given me a big chance.

“I can do 10st easy. I’m about that now and it will just be a matter of losing a couple of pounds during the week.”

Geraghty now looks set to get the leg-up on the Mouse Morris-trained China Rock, who is due to carry 10st 4lb.

Hennessy Gold Cup (Ladbrokes betting): 4-1 Denman, 5-1 Weird Al, 6-1 Diamond Harry, 8-1 Burton Port, 9-1 Pandorama, 12-1 Big Fella Thanks, Neptune Collonges, 14-1 Madison du Berlias, Taranis, 16-1 Carruthers, China Rock, Hey Big Spender, Silver By Nature, 25-1 Niche Market, 33-1 others.