Tiutchev is on course for the rescheduled Doubleprint Tingle Creek Trophy at Cheltenham on Saturday, for which seven entries were confirmed today.
Nicky Henderson`s Arkle Challenge Trophy winner had been ante-post favourite for the Grade One contest, which was due to be staged at Sandown last Saturday until the weather intervened, but was an overnight withdrawal after knocking a joint.
'I was very pleased with him this morning - in fact he only missed three days,' Henderson said. 'He`s got to run and if he needs it he needs it.
'They have put the race on and we must go. It has given him the week. He`s got over the problem and he worked well. As long as everything is all right he`s ready to go.'
Among his possible rivals on Saturday are Direct Route and Flagship Uberalles, winners of the last two Tingle Creeks.
Howard Johnson is keen to get a race into Direct Route before his stable star tackles three miles for the first time in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day but his efforts have been hindered by torrential rain in County Durham.
'There`s only one thing stopping my horse and that`s the weather - I`ve never known it so wet,' he said. 'He needs a lot of work and we are trying our best to keep him going. We`ll take him down to the beach at Redcar later this week.
'I want to go to Cheltenham if possible but at the moment I`ve no idea if I`ll get him there.
'He must have a race if he`s going to go for the King George - you can`t go there without a run.
'There aren`t many races for him so if he doesn`t go on Saturday I`ll have to get him in a hurdle race _ quick.'
Venetia Williams has Bellator and The Outback Way in the #55,000 contest.
And the list is completed by Paul Nicholls` Fadalko - also entered in the Tripleprint Gold Cup the same afternoon - and the Oliver Sherwood-trained Cenkos.
Bellator is also among the entries for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown the following afternoon.
However, Miss Williams said: 'Bellator will probably go to Cheltenham. The Outback Way is also an intended runner - he`s done a lot of his winning there.'
Doubleprint has stepped in to sponsor the race, which was due to be run under the Mitsubishi banner at Sandown.
Nigel Payne, spokesman for George Ward who is responsible for Doubleprint, said: 'We are delighted to accommodate the Tingle Creek Trophy Chase within the Tripleprint meeting and even more pleased to have been given the opportunity by Cheltenham to sponsor the race this year.'
Peter McNeile, Cheltenham`s commercial manager, added: 'We are delighted to be able to stage the Doubleprint Tingle Creek Trophy Chase at Cheltenham and it is a result of a partnership between the main sponsor, Cheltenham and the Levy Board.'
Cashmans bet: 2-1 Tiutchev, 7-2 Flagship Uberalles, 4-1 Cenkos, 9-2 Direct Route, 7-1 Bellator, 8-1 Fadalko, 16-1 The Outback Way.
