From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton
Harry Redknapp knows all about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, however nothing might have prepared him for the drama of Kempton Park, where The Jukebox Man entered the Champions League and left the previous Premier League manager holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trophy up.
It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and fitness instructor Ben Pauling's eye revealed himself as a top-level entertainer with victory on this very afternoon, however now was his time to show he belonged amongst the elite.
Sent at 7-1 after returning from injury in design at Haydock last month, Redknapp compared the challenge of handling the might of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson in the Christmas showpiece to his days in the dugout taking on a few of Europe's finest.
Harry Redknapp is mobbed after winning the King George VI with The Jukebox Man pic.twitter.com/oELRQtlpEa
- Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) December 26, 2025
Redknapp' star finalizing was in stellar form, shrugging off his oppositions in an efficiency that was inspired, ruthless and entirely fantastic in equal procedure. After an age-long wait for the judge to provide the verdict by a nose, the previous 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a ... Get Me Out of Here! was in no doubt where the moment ranked amongst his many sporting achievements.
He stated: "We had entered into the Premier League with this horse which was great, but today we went Champions League and we were taking on the top groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can complete with them and win, it's an amazing sensation.
"This is right up there with my finest sporting accomplishments. Football has actually been my life and when you win a cup final for the fans it is an amazing sensation at a football club, but I enjoy racing and I enjoy the game and the people in it - to have a winner like this is simply great.
"To have a horse that excellent is astounding. I love the video game but to come here on King George day and just run made me so happy - however to have the winner is unique.
Harry Redknapp with the King George VI Chase trophy (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"I'm so lucky and everyone was jumping on me at the end, but I didn't even know if I had won. Everyone else seemed so positive, however I wasn't sure. It was a dream when they called the winner. I got a big kiss from Sandra at the end too and she believes I only have that horse."
It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth supervisor Redknapp raised the FA Cup aloft just a brief drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.
That Pompey team maybe typified the 78-year-old's managerial profession, however after The Jukebox Man was made 7-1 by a number of firms for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the master of the transfer market appears to have actually worked his magic when again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase sparked more Cheltenham Festival dreams.
"What a race he has actually run and he's jumped unbelievable," stated Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I believed he was beat and would end up fourth, but he's come again and the guts the horse has shown is just remarkable.
Harry Redknapp (centre) and team The Jukebox Man celebrate at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"Ben has been so bullish about this horse and I'm asking him about the opposition, however he's simply informing me he does not care which they all had us to beat. Ben Jones said he desires more cut and more range, possibly we get that in March?"
He went on: "I've had my finest days with Ben. He trained Shakem Up'arry to win for me at the Cheltenham Festival which was a dream and after that to come here today. He's been lucky for me and it's remarkable actually. I don't think we have actually had a bad horse together."
Set versus the backdrop of Kempton's much-publicised potential closure, it was a King George which served a suggestion of why the race's location on the Boxing Day calendar is vital for the sport.
A titanic four-way fight after the last left many describing it as the very best renewal of the Grade One function they have actually ever seen and on a day without any Premier League football in the afternoon, saw more than 17,000 yuletide revellers file through the gates.
The Jukebox Man was the star of an excellent day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
Simon Durrant, basic manager at Kempton Park, stated: "Today was a fantastic example of whatever that is fantastic about dive racing in Britain.
"I'm thrilled for Harry Redknapp and all those linked with Ben Pauling's group and The Jukebox Man and I'm likewise delighted for the team here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 people through the gates, consisting of sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful reward for all their effort and long days in the accumulation to Christmas and on the day today.
"While there has actually been a great deal of speculation about the future of this racecourse, our message to racegoers has actually always been that our focus continues to be on hosting racing here, both for next year and into the future, and tickets for next year's Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park go on sale on Monday (December 29th December)."