Ballyburn bounced back from a defeat against Sir Gino at Kempton over Christmas to land the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Ballyburn started his chasing career with an emphatic thirteen-length victory at Punchestown in November, marking the gelding as one of the top novice chasers in Ireland. Taken to Kempton for the Grade 2 Wayward Novices' Chase, he suffered his first defeat in a year, failing to oppose Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Sir Gino.

It was an impressive performance from the Willie Mullins-trained novice chaser, who chased stablemate and leader Champ Kiely in the early stages of the Ladbrokes Novices Chase. He found the front with two to jump, overturning the challenge of Gordon Elliott's Croke Park for a five length success. Impaire Et Passe, who could never get on terms, finished a further five-and-a-half lengths back in third.

"I never lost faith, Kempton was just a bit sharp for him and I suppose Kempton lit him up as well, so he was fairly lit today with Paul," Mullins said.

"I think he eventually got him settled and he was afraid to move on him then in case he took off again, so he didn't do any racing until after the last and he did what he usually does – he just quickened up from the last home.

"He looks a decent horse and I loved what he did from the last to the line. Once Paul got to ask him, he flew.

"He's bred to get three miles and it's fascinating he was able to do what he did over two miles and everyone had him down as a two-miler, but looking at his page you'd have to think he wants a trip.

"I thought his jumping improved today, going that pace today over that trip it was going to be easier for him."

With the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival likely to be Ballyburn's next target, Coral made the gelding the new 2/1 favourite for the three mile contest.