THERE wasn’t a single Irish-trained winner of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) between Kicking King’s second success in the race in 2005 and 2021.

During that 15-year stretch, Kempton’s Christmas highlight was won exclusively by three British trainers: Paul Nicholls (10 wins in that period), Nicky Henderson (three) and Colin Tizzard (two).

It probably says something about how the power has dramatically shifted towards Irish-trained horses in National Hunt racing in recent times that a strong raiding party this Thursday could make it three King George wins in the space of four years for the visitors. The Irish are certainly coming with strength in numbers and quality.

J.P. McManus has a crack team of staying chasers right now and the £4,600 spent on supplementing Spillane’s Tower into the race last Friday could look like money very well spent if he clicks in this £260,050 prize. There was so much to be encouraged by in his comeback second to Fact To File in a John Durkan Memorial Chase for the ages at Punchestown last month.

Provided conditions aren’t quicker than he’ll cope with, it’s hard to think that any runner in the line-up has as much potential as the Jimmy Mangan-trained dual Grade 1 winner. He’s still only a six-year-old. Being able to beat top operators like Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow so early in his career, as he did last time, must be taken as hugely encouraging.

Corbetts Cross, carrying the same colours, is clearly better than he showed when beaten last time at Wexford, and he’s capable of posting big performances when on his ‘A’ game for Emmet Mullins. Look no further than his 17-length demolition job in the National Hunt Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, and his close third to Gerri Colombe at Aintree.

Ground concern

His trainer is concerned by the prospect of good ground at Kempton, however.

Asked on Monday if there’s a chance Corbetts Cross mightn’t line up if the ground turned good, Mullins said: “Definitely. We have a championship chaser and they’re not designed to run on good ground.”

He added: “We’re very excited to have our first runner in the King George. It was a very satisfactory run at Wexford; he wasn’t fully wound up and it was great to get the run under his belt. My long-term aim is the Gold Cup.”

Banbridge, another Irish raider representing Joseph O’Brien, has already won around Kempton before, so that box is ticked, but his stamina needs to be proved at this three-mile trip. He demonstrated his wellbeing despite unseating at the last while pressing Energumene in the Hilly Way 18 days ago.

It’s probably surprising how little fanfare there has been in the build-up about Envoi Allen (Henry de Bromhead) given how he claimed his second Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal when last seen and conditions are bound to be in his favour. He is a nine-time Grade 1 winner, after all.

Even though there is lively Irish contingent making the journey to Kempton for one of the most famous races in the National Hunt calendar, it says a lot about the depth of Ireland’s chasing ranks that the five highest-rated staying chasers in the country remain on home soil this Christmas and Irish-trained runners still supply four of the top seven in the betting (including the ante-post favourite).

Four of those top five at home - Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, Gerri Colombe and I Am Maximus - are expected to clash at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase on Saturday. In a golden age for top-class jumps horses in Ireland, Spillane’s Tower may be set to shine brightest in a race that often serves up its share of Christmas magic. Bring it home, Jimmy.