No Sir Gino and he's up in trip - so can Ballyburn get his mojo back after Kempton thumping?

Is this the day Ballyburn wins back his legion of followers? The bubble burst at Kempton over Christmas when Sir Gino put him in his place, but that was over a sharp two miles against a speedy ante-post favourite for the Arkle. This is different. Very different.

Everything about Ballyburn's pedigree suggests stamina more than speed. He's a brother to five winners and, among those are Minella Daddy, who won over 3m4f, and Noble Endeavor, who won the Paddy Power Chase over 3m.

He is back to the trip of his win in what is now called the Turners Novices' Hurdle and that performance, according to Racing Post Ratings, was the best there had been in that race this century. He was given a mark of 166 for that.

It now seems as though the Brown Advisory is the main aim for Ballyburn this season. He is now a standout 11-4 with Ladbrokes, but 2-1 in many places, and victory here could see that price harden further.

The worry for Ballyburn backers is his jumping. He lost lengths on Sir Gino at every other fence around Kempton and landed in the middle of the final fence. It didn't scream natural chaser and it will be interesting to see how he negotiates the line of fences down the back straight here.

Daryl Jacob on Impaire Et Passe wins the Faugheen Novice Chase at LimerickCredit: Lorraine O'Sullivan

Stablemate Impaire Et Passe is two from two over fences. According to official ratings, he was a 1lb superior hurdler to Ballyburn over hurdles and the way he quickened to win the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas was very easy on the eye. He's dangerous.

So, too, is Champ Kiely, who made little of a massive 614-day absence to win by 11 lengths on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. He looked every inch a chaser there.

There is likely to be a battle for early supremacy with Croke Park, an established front-runner, along with Champ Kiely. They are not going to hang about.

Willie Mullins has won four of the last five runnings of this Grade 1 and the biggest price of those was Faugheen at 13-8 in 2020.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Ballyburn, Champ Kiely and Impaire Et Passe
We found out the last day Ballyburn couldn't jump with Sir Gino, who could be a superstar. It was disappointing to go over there and get beaten, but at least we found out we're not going down the two-mile route. Looking at his pedigree and the stamp of a horse he is, he's got stayer written all over him. Hopefully, his attitude will let him stay as he has to settle. Impaire Et Passe won nicely at Christmas and this trip will be no problem to him. Champ Kiely has been in good form since Fairyhouse and time-wise the race fits fine into his schedule.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Croke Park
He has been a revelation since we sent him chasing and has done nothing wrong. Coming back in trip isn't ideal, but he's a terrific jumper and he keeps on winning,

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Prairie Dancer
He's in good form. He comes here off a nice win at Thurles and, although this is a nice step up in class, hopefully he will be able to collect some prize-money.

Read our Sunday previews...

1.40 Leopardstown: Kopek Des Bordes the one to beat - but will his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate who 'could be anything' spoil the party?

2.10 Leopardstown: 'I think he'll be bang there' - who believes they can derail the Mullins juggernaut in Dublin Chase?

2.25 Musselburgh: 'He still has some improvement in him off his mark' - Grand National possibles line up for Edinburgh equivalent at Musselburgh

3.20 Leopardstown: 'You should never knock a horse for one bad run' - Lossiemouth and State Man lock horns in fascinating Irish Champion Hurdle