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 former Premier League manager 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 victory on this extremely afternoon, but now was his time to show he belonged amongst the elite.
Sent off at 7-1 after returning from injury in style at Haydock last month, Redknapp likened the obstacle of the might of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson in the Christmas showpiece to his days in the dugout handling 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 excellent form, shaking off his challengers in an efficiency that was inspired, unrelenting and entirely brilliant in equivalent step. After an age-long await the judge to provide the decision 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 moment ranked amongst his lots of 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 leading groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can compete with them and win, it's an incredible feeling.
"This is right up there with my best sporting achievements. Football has been my life and when you win a cup final for the fans it is an extraordinary sensation at a football club, but I like racing and I like the game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is just wonderful.
"To have a horse that great boggles the mind. I enjoy the game but to come here on King George day and just run made me so happy - but to have the winner is special.
Harry Redknapp with the King George VI Chase prize (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
"I'm so fortunate and everybody 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 too and she believes I only 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 maybe typified the 78-year-old's managerial career, but 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 when again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase fired up more Cheltenham Festival dreams.
"What a race he has actually run and he's leapt incredible," said Redknapp. "When they concerned him I believed he was beat and would end up 4th, however he's returned and the guts the horse has actually revealed is just remarkable.
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 simply informing me he doesn't care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones said he desires more cut and more range, perhaps 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 then to come here today. He's been fortunate for me and it's fantastic truly. I do not believe we've had a bad horse together."
Set against the background of Kempton's much-publicised possible 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 battle after the last left numerous explaining it as the very best renewal of the Grade One feature they have ever seen and on a day without any Premier League football in the afternoon, saw more than 17,000 yuletide revellers submit through the turnstiles.
The Jukebox Man was the star of a terrific 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 excellent about jump racing in Britain.
"I'm delighted for Harry Redknapp and all those linked with Ben Pauling's team and The Jukebox Man and I'm likewise thrilled for the group here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 people through the gates, including sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a great reward for all their hard work 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 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)."