Carruthers returns to the scene of his greatest success when he lines up for the Ultima Business Solutions Silver Jubilee Handicap Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The 12-year-old won the Hennessy Gold Cup in November 2011 and is back in action at the Berkshire track after being a late withdrawal from the Betfred Midlands Grand National because of the extremely soft ground at Uttoxeter last weekend.

"He's in good old nick, the old boy," said trainer Mark Bradstock's wife and assistant, Sara.

"He's in a good place in the handicap, but we will be hoping the ground is on the slow side. He's a bit more fussy about the ground now in his old age. I had no problem taking him out of the Midlands National on that ground at Uttoxeter. I watched the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle there and they didn't get home in that."

Carruthers' half-brother and stablemate Coneygree will parade just before the race to celebrate his victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"The parade is at virtually the same time as Carruthers runs, so it makes it quite tricky and complicated," she went on. "He's great, he's in really good nick, but I think we must stay firm and not run him again.

"It's pretty amazing the handicapper making him the highest-rated (novice) chaser this century with a rating of 172. He is extraordinary and the fact is he does what he does. Together with his jumping, he just goes a gallop that takes them out of their comfort zone."

No Duffer, who like Carruthers skipped the Midlands National because of the testing conditions, takes his chance.

His trainer Tom George is hoping that decision pays off for the progressive eight-year-old, who won a handicap chase over an extended three miles by six lengths from Russe Blanc at Sandown last month.

The trainer said: "He seems to be improving. He loves the better ground. We had him in the Midlands National but bypassed that because of the soft ground. It looks a nice race for him and he should run well."

Oliver Sherwood is delighted with the well-being of Financial Climate, who is seeking a hat-trick after wins at Chepstow and Sandown.

"I'm very happy with him. I was really impressed with him at Sandown. He ran a super race. I've never seen him jump as well," said the Upper Lambourn trainer.

"This is a career-high for him. Whether it was the better ground last time, I don't know, but he enjoyed it and he's come out of his race in great form, so we thought it was worth taking a chance in a race like this."

Ikorodu Road won this race in 2012 when trained by Matt Sheppard, and Graeme McPherson, who looks after the 12-year-old now, is optimistic of a bold display, especially after his latest run at Doncaster when he was a staying-on third to Aaachen last month.

McPherson said: "He'll have his ground for the first time this season. He's a good-ground horse and we've had to run him on unsuitable ground through the winter. He's in cracking order, and has a first-time visor. He ran well at Doncaster last time out, he was staying on well at the end and the extra two furlongs will help him. I'm hoping for a nice run.

"He won this race three years ago when he had a golden spell. He's a few pounds lower in the weights than he was then, but he's a few years older. For him, the most important thing is the ground, and he loves it round Newbury. A big, flat, galloping track."

Tom Scudamore is looking forward to teaming up with Amigo in a race for only the second time. Successful on the David Pipe-trained eight-year-old at Ayr in April 2013, the jockey is expecting a decent run.

He said: "He goes on all sorts of ground and I won on him up at Ayr in the past on good to soft. Hopefully he can roll back the years."