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The Druids Nephew would ensure a turbulent week for trainer Neil Mulholland ends on a high if he can win the Murphy Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was a promising novice for Andy Turnell before slightly losing his way, but he looked right back to his best when winning as he liked at Huntingdon on his first start for Mulholland in October.

With The Young Master having now been disqualified from the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton on Saturday, the Wiltshire handler could do with a change of fortune.

"I was delighted with the way he won on his first run for me," said Mulholland, who won this Grade Three in 2010 with Midnight Chase.

"Going right-handed wouldn't have really suited him, but everything else about the race was in his favour so we let him take his chance and he did it nicely.

"AP (McCoy) liked him. He doesn't usually say much - most of the ones he rides for me are of a lower class - but when he came back in he was really positive about him.

"That was a nice introduction and I think he's improved a fair bit for that.

"He's carrying a lot less weight, which will be in his favour, and while there is a question mark about stamina, he certainly wasn't stopping last time over three miles. He was a good novice and he's a stronger horse now."

Saint Are left Tim Vaughan in the summer to join Tom George, who has been delighted with his new charge.

Still only an eight-year-old, the Grade One-winning novice hurdler's last success over fences came off a mark off 137 and he starts life with new connections on 129.

"I've been thrilled with him at home," said the Slad handler.

"It took a while for him to adapt to the way we do things but he had a good summer out in the field and is now very much at home.

"I've been really pleased with him, his work has been good and I can't do any more with him at home. He'd lost his way but seems in very good form to me and looks a happy horse."

Robin Dickin's Restless Harry heads the weights.

Now a 10-year-old, the Warwickshire handler expects him to put up a much better display than on his reappearance at Ascot two weeks ago.

"He's in tremendous form. I've never known him as sharp as he is right now," said Dickin.

"He's really sharp and well and the rain is very much in his favour."

Popular owner Terry Warner is represented by the Philip Hobbs-trained Lamb Or Cod, who has been in great form of late.

But Warner said: "I don't think he's good enough. We're running him to see how good he is. He's all right, but he's only won bad races.

"There's no point not running him because the handicapper thinks he's better than he is."