Now with Nicky Henderson after being bought by JP McManus from France, he did very little wrong at Ludlow but was caught out by inexperience in the closing stages.
For much of the contest he appeared to be travelling best and jumped into the lead two from home.
However, a mistake at the last cost him valuable momentum and he was run down by Alan King's Egbert.
Egbert hardly franked the form on his handicap debut, but Impose Toi is sure to come on for his initial experience
It is no surprise at all to see Tom Symonds drop Issam back in trip for the Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Hurdle.
He looked all over the winner last time out at Ffos Las, but the combination of testing ground and two and a half miles caught him out.
Back down to two miles, on a quicker surface and a sharper track, he should be hard to beat.
Whistleinthedark has taken to fences really well and can defy top weight in the Mossman Bricks Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Leicester.
Trained by the very capable Laura Morgan, the eight-year-old has looked a completely different proposition since being asked to tackle the bigger obstacles.
Morgan inherited him off Richard Hawker and after a fine season opener over hurdles when beaten half a length at Ayr, he went to Market Rasen for his chasing debut.
Sporting a hood for the first time and upped marginally in trip, he came home unchallenged.
That was off an opening mark of 113 but upped to 125 at Wetherby, despite taking on only one rival, it was a very useful one in Since Day One who had been third in Grade Two company on his previous run.
Once again Whistleinthedark jumped well out in front and despite his jockey briefly losing his irons down the back straight, he was never in any danger.
If he gets his own way in front once more, another 9lb might not stop him.
Morgan could well be on the mark earlier with another top weight in First Angel, who runs in the William Hercock Limited Royal Lancers Association Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old was a beaten odds-on favourite when last seen at Perth over 200 days ago but the winner, Getaman, is now rated 12lb higher.
Ruby Island has looked very promising this season and she is taken to win again in the Visit Irish Store Sales With ITM EBF Mares' "NH" Novices' Hurdle at Ayr.
She had some decent form in bumpers but is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles and looks a natural.
Ruby Island carries a double penalty in this contest but so does her main rival, which should make her task easier and she can take this before having her sights raised.
Jupiter Express can go well off bottom weight in the Unibet Moneyback On Selected Cheltenham Races Apprentice Handicap at Kempton.
He has been extremely well placed since joining Mick Appleby and remains on good terms with himself.
When Andrew Balding's McLean House won last time out, he had the look of a young horse well capable of defying a penalty.
He gets the chance to prove that in the Unibet Support Safe Gambling Restricted Novice Stakes.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 1.30 You Some Boy, 2.00 Having A Barney, 2.35 Ultra Violet, 3.10 Future Benefits, 3.45 Kingston Bridge, 4.20 Ruby Island, 4.55 Champ De Gane.
DUNDALK: 4.45 Pub Talk, 5.15 Storm Eric, 5.45 Maralinga, 6.15 Bowerman, 6.45 Take Heart, 7.15 San Andreas, 7.45 Ghumama, 8.15 Prince Of Abington.
EXETER: 1.50 IMPOSE TOI (NAP), 2.25 Caspers Court, 3.00 Hititi, 3.35 Issam, 4.10 Blue Shark, 4.40 Port Or Starboard.
KEMPTON: 6.00 Jupiter Express, 6.30 McLean House, 7.00 Margaret's Fuchsia, 7.30 Phoenix Glow, 8.00 Mr Inspiration, 8.30 Eastern Star.
LEICESTER: 2.15 Stormin Crossgales, 2.50 First Angel, 3.25 Pawpaw, 4.00 Whistleinthedark, 4.30 Mixedwave, 5.05 Mister Whitaker.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.40 Dapper Man, 2.10 High Ovation, 2.45 Sexy Rexy, 3.20 Quick Change, 3.55 Moon Knight, 4.25 Captain St Lucifer.
DOUBLE: Impose Toi and Whistleinthedark.
