From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton
Harry Redknapp understands everything about sporting thrills and spills on Boxing Day, however 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 manager holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trophy up.
It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and Ben Pauling's eye announced himself as a high-level performer with triumph on this very afternoon, however now was his time to prove he belonged amongst the elite.
Dispatched at 7-1 after returning from injury in design 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 taking on some of Europe's best.
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 remained in outstanding kind, shaking off his oppositions in an efficiency that was inspired, ruthless and utterly dazzling in equivalent procedure. After an age-long await the judge to provide the verdict by a nose, the former 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Star ... Get Me Out of Here! was in no doubt where the minute ranked among his numerous sporting achievements.
He said: "We had actually entered the Premier League with this horse which was wonderful, however today we went Champions League and we were handling the leading groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can compete with them and win, it's a remarkable feeling.
"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 like racing and I enjoy the video game and the people in it - to have a winner like this is simply wonderful.
"To have a horse that great boggles the mind. I love the video game however to come here on King George day and just run made me so proud - but 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 everybody was getting on me at the end, but I didn't even know if I had actually 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 only have that horse."
It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth supervisor Redknapp hoisted the FA Cup up simply a brief drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.
That Pompey team possibly epitomized the 78-year-old's supervisory profession, but 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 run and he's leapt unbelievable," said Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I believed he was beat and would complete 4th, however he's returned and the guts the horse has actually shown is simply incredible.
Harry Redknapp (centre) and team The Jukebox Man commemorate 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 just 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 lucky for me and it's amazing really. I do not believe we've had a bad horse together."
Set versus the backdrop of Kempton's much-publicised potential closure, it was a King George which served a tip of why the race's put on the Boxing Day calendar is imperative for the sport.
A titanic four-way battle after the last left many explaining it as the finest renewal of the Grade One function they have actually ever seen and on a day with no Premier League football in the afternoon, saw more than 17,000 yuletide revellers submit 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 supervisor at Kempton Park, said: "Today was a wonderful example of everything that is excellent about dive racing in Britain.
"I'm pleased for Harry Redknapp and all those gotten in touch with Ben Pauling's team and The Jukebox Man and I'm likewise delighted for the group here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 individuals through evictions, including 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 lot of speculation about the future of this racecourse, our message to racegoers has 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)."