He may have looked a bit vulnerable going to the last but the step-up to two and a half miles done Aupcharlie the world of good. The son of Daliapour stayed on really well under Andrew Lynch from the back of the last where Whispering Hills wasn't as fluent. Aupcharlie then crossed the line three and a quarter lengths to the good from Whispering Hills in the I.T.B.A. Expo 2012 Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins trains the Andrew Lynch-ridden winner for Ann and Alan Potts and he said: "He's probably the same as the first winner, Darroun in that the better ground was a help. He had disappointed up to now and he looks like a spring horse. He was the same last year.

"He idled in front and I wouldn't be afraid to go out in trip with him on better ground. He'll get entries in the novice hurdles at Cheltenham and I'm not sure if he'll run before then."

Lynch said: "He's a grand tough horse and he probably wants further than two and a half miles."

Stan James go 50/1 Aupcharlie for the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle and 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. (AM & EM)