From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton
Harry Redknapp knows everything about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, however absolutely nothing might have prepared him for the drama of Kempton Park, where The Jukebox Man stepped into the Champions League and left the previous Premier League supervisor holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trophy aloft.
It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and trainer Ben Pauling's eye announced himself as a high-level performer with success on this extremely afternoon, now was his time to show he belonged among the elite.
Sent off at 7-1 after returning from injury in style at Haydock last month, Redknapp likened the challenge of handling the may of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson in the Christmas masterpiece to his days in the dugout handling some of Europe's best.
Harry Redknapp is mobbed after winning the King George VI with The Jukebox Man pic.twitter.com/oELRQtlpEa
- (@Adam_Morgs) December 26, 2025
Redknapp' star finalizing remained in outstanding type, brushing off his challengers in an efficiency that was influenced, ruthless and utterly brilliant in equivalent procedure. After an age-long wait on the judge to deliver the verdict by a nose, the previous 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! remained in no doubt where the moment ranked among his many sporting accomplishments.
He said: "We had entered the Premier League with this horse which was great, however today we went Champions League and we were handling the top teams, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can take on them and win, it's a fantastic feeling.
"This is right up there with my finest sporting accomplishments. Football has actually been my life and when you win a cup last for the fans it is an amazing sensation at a football club, however I enjoy racing and I love the video game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is just wonderful.
"To have a horse that great boggles the mind. I love the 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 prize (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"I'm so lucky and everybody was leaping on me at the end, however I didn't even understand if I had actually won. Everyone else seemed so confident, however I wasn't sure. It was a dream when they called the winner. I got a huge kiss from Sandra at the end as well and she believes I just have that horse."
It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth supervisor Redknapp raised the FA Cup up just a short drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.
That Pompey squad perhaps 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 once again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase ignited more Cheltenham Festival dreams.
"What a race he has run and he's leapt unbelievable," said Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I thought he was beat and would end up fourth, but he's come again and the guts the horse has shown is just fantastic.
Harry Redknapp (centre) and team The Jukebox Man celebrate at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"Ben has actually been so bullish about this horse and I'm asking him about the opposition, however he's simply telling me he doesn't care which they all had us to beat. Ben Jones stated he desires more cut and more distance, maybe we get that in March?"
He went on: "I've had my best 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 amazing truly. I don't believe we've had a bad horse together."
Set versus the background of Kempton's much-publicised possible closure, it was a King George which served a tip of why the race's put on the Boxing Day calendar is important for the sport.
A titanic four-way fight after the last left many explaining it as the very best renewal of the Grade One feature they have ever seen and on a day with no 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 terrific about jump racing in Britain.
"I'm pleased for Harry Redknapp and all those gotten in touch with Ben Pauling's group and The Jukebox Man and I'm also thrilled for the group here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 individuals through the gates, consisting of sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful reward for all their hard work and long days in the build-up to Christmas and on the day today.
"While there has actually been a lot 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)."
