WHISTLEINTHEDARK was dropping in trip, but the rain that fell beforehand made this more of a test. Always up with the pace before taking over with a mile left, he looked to be a sitting duck for the runner-up coming to the last, but his stamina came in useful and he kept on pulling out more on the run in to make it 3-3 over regulation fences. Winner of a two-runner novice chase last time, he was 21lb higher than when successful in a novices' handicap the time before which shows how much he is improving.