Kitzbuhel produced a superb front-running display to give Willie Mullins a first victory in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

A Grade 3-winning hurdler and a decisive scorer on his chasing debut at Punchestown last month, Kitzbuhel was the 13/8 favourite stepping up in trip and class for this three-mile Grade 1 and was soon bowling along at the head of affairs in the hands of Paul Townend.

While chief market rivals Wendigo and Thomas Mor appeared to be struggling to keep up on this speed-favouring track, Kitzbuhel got into a perfect rhythm on the lead and produced some prodigious leaps in the back straight to leave the chasing pack on the back foot.

Eventual runner-up Thomas Mor briefly threatened to close the gap rounding the home turn, but Kitzbuhel was not for catching and although he stood a long way off the final obstacle he safely made it to the other side to put the seal on a visually impressive two-and-three-quarter-length success.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “I thought he was spectacular. I was wondering if the ground was too good for him, but he handled it very well and he jumped off it fantastically. He gallops and he stays, what more could you want in a racehorse.

“You wouldn’t think there is any problem there (with the trip), and the ground was good enough in the Aintree race, but maybe if we go back to it there was some other reason. Looking at that he could easily go back to two and a half miles, there is nothing written in stone yet.

“You are hoping that they just keep jumping like that and that you don’t make one mistake and let the whole field back into the race. I was afraid of Paul Nicholls and his horse (Blueking D’Oroux), but that didn’t seem to jump well enough around here and then Philip Hobbs horse came with a rattle, but he just missed the second last a little bit.

“We’ve a nice team of novice chasers and hopefully they stay sound as they race. It is far too early for me to be planning anything, but I imagine you would be looking at the Dublin Racing Festival or whatever the equivalent is over here.

“Something like that (Scilly Isles) would be in the mix. We will see how everything goes over Christmas before we start making any plans.

“I could have brought Jimmy Du Seuil over and I wondered if that would have suited him better and we had to make a decision on Tuesday and we made it this way and it has worked out.

“He looked like an old hand. He was just so at home and Paul had so much confidence in him and the further he went the more confidence Paul had in him. If he can keep up that for the rest of the season that would be fantastic.”

Townend added: "Wasn't he brilliant? He took on the first really well and from there I was just letting him dictate away in front himself. He was really enjoying it, jumped for fun and handled the ground nicely."

"It's easy to set the fractions when you're on the best horse isn't it? They just do it that little bit easier than everyone else. My jumping around here on this lad was key."

As for the runner-up a return to softer ground is likely to see him in an even better light according to joint-trainer Johnson White, who trains the eight-year-old in partnership with Philip Hobbs.

White said: “He wants slower ground, but then there will be an awful lot running over this period that want slower ground. Under those conditions it was a fantastic performance and there is lots to look forward to.

“Kitzbuhel was always travelling nicely within himself, but equally he was running a similar race to the one at Ascot where he was under pressure four or five out then came back on it nicely turning in.

“There was a fleeting moment where I got very over excited, but sadly it was put to bed very quickly.

“I think it (the Reynoldstown) would probably come on to the agenda as he wants three miles and he wants more cut in the ground.”