From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton
Harry Redknapp knows all about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, however nothing could have prepared him for the drama of Kempton Park, where The Jukebox Man entered the Champions League and left the former Premier League manager holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase prize up.
It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and trainer Ben Pauling's eye announced himself as a top-level performer with triumph on this very afternoon, and now was his time to prove he belonged amongst the elite.
Sent at 7-1 after returning from injury in design at Haydock last month, Redknapp likened the challenge of taking on the may 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 outstanding form, shaking off his challengers in a performance that was inspired, relentless and utterly dazzling in equal procedure. After an age-long wait on the judge to provide the verdict by a nose, the previous 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Celeb ... Get Me Out of Here! remained in no doubt where the minute ranked among his many sporting accomplishments.
He said: "We had got into the Premier League with this horse which was great, however today we went Champions League and we were taking on the leading teams, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we showed we can take on them and win, it's an incredible sensation.
"This is right up there with my finest sporting accomplishments. Football has been my life and when you win a cup last for the fans it is an amazing sensation at a football club, however I and I enjoy the game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is just fantastic.
"To have a horse that excellent boggles the mind. I enjoy the video game however to come here on King George day and simply run made me so proud - however to have the winner is unique.
Harry Redknapp with the King George VI Chase prize (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"I'm so fortunate and everyone was leaping on me at the end, however I didn't even know if I had won. Everyone else appeared so confident, but I wasn't sure. It was a dream when they called the winner. I got a huge kiss from Sandra at the end also and she thinks I just have that horse."
It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth manager Redknapp raised the FA Cup up simply a brief drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.
That Pompey squad perhaps represented the 78-year-old's managerial career, however after The Jukebox Man was made 7-1 by a number of companies for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the master of the transfer market appears to have actually worked his magic once again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase ignited more Cheltenham Festival dreams.
"What a race he has actually run and he's jumped amazing," stated Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I believed he was beat and would end up 4th, but he's come once again and the guts the horse has actually revealed is simply incredible.
Harry Redknapp (centre) and team The Jukebox Man commemorate 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, but he's simply informing me he doesn't care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones stated he wants more cut and more range, maybe 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 fortunate for me and it's amazing truly. I do not think we have actually had a bad horse together."
Set versus the background of Kempton's much-publicised prospective closure, it was a King George which served a suggestion of why the race's put on the Boxing Day calendar is essential for the sport.
A titanic four-way fight after the last left numerous explaining 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 a terrific day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
Simon Durrant, general manager at Kempton Park, said: "Today was a great example of everything that is terrific about dive racing in Britain.
"I'm delighted for Harry Redknapp and all those gotten in touch with Ben Pauling's group and The Jukebox Man and I'm also delighted for the group here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 people through evictions, consisting of sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful reward for all their effort and long days in the build-up to Christmas and on the day today.
"While there has been a great deal of speculation about the future of this racecourse, our message to racegoers has actually constantly 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)."