From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton

Harry Redknapp knows everything about sporting thrills and spills on Boxing Day, but 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 supervisor holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase prize aloft.


It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and fitness instructor Ben Pauling's eye announced himself as a top-level entertainer with triumph on this extremely afternoon, now was his time to prove he belonged amongst the elite.


Sent off at 7-1 after returning from injury in design at Haydock last month, Redknapp compared 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 some 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 signing remained in outstanding form, shaking off his challengers in a performance that was motivated, unrelenting and absolutely fantastic in equivalent procedure. After an age-long wait on the judge to deliver 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 moment ranked among his lots of sporting accomplishments.


He stated: "We had actually entered into the Premier League with this horse which was fantastic, however today we went Champions League and we were taking on the top groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can take on them and win, it's a fantastic sensation.


"This is right up there with my finest sporting achievements. Football has been my life and when you win a cup last for the fans it is an extraordinary sensation at a football club, however I love racing and I love the game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is simply wonderful.


"To have a horse that good is incredible. I love the game however to come here on King George day and just run made me so proud - however 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 lucky and everybody was getting on me at the end, however I didn't even if I had 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 also and she thinks I only have that horse."


It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth manager Redknapp hoisted the FA Cup up just a brief drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.


That Pompey squad maybe represented the 78-year-old's supervisory profession, however after The Jukebox Man was made 7-1 by a variety of companies for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the master of the transfer market appears to have worked his magic as soon as again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase ignited more Cheltenham Festival dreams.


"What a race he has actually run and he's leapt unbelievable," said Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I thought he was beat and would finish 4th, however he's returned and the guts the horse has actually revealed is just amazing.


Harry Redknapp (centre) and group 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, but he's just informing me he does not care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones stated he desires more cut and more distance, possibly 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 fortunate for me and it's fantastic actually. I don't believe we have actually had a bad horse together."


Set versus the backdrop of Kempton's much-publicised prospective closure, it was a King George which served a reminder 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 feature 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 turnstiles.


The Jukebox Man was the star of a fantastic day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)


Simon Durrant, basic manager at Kempton Park, stated: "Today was a wonderful example of whatever that is terrific about dive racing in Britain.


"I'm pleased for Harry Redknapp and all those linked 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, including sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful benefit for all their effort and long days in the accumulation 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 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)."