From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton

Harry Redknapp understands all about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, but nothing could have prepared him for the drama of Kempton Park, where The Jukebox Man entered 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 fitness instructor Ben Pauling's eye announced himself as a high-level entertainer with triumph on this really 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 obstacle of taking on the might of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson in the Christmas showpiece to his days in the dugout handling a few of Europe's best.


Harry Redknapp is mobbed after winning the 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 a performance that was influenced, ruthless and utterly fantastic in equivalent step. After an age-long wait on the judge to provide the decision by a nose, the former 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! remained in no doubt where the moment ranked amongst his numerous sporting accomplishments.


He said: "We had actually entered into the Premier League with this horse which was great, however today we went Champions League and we were handling the top groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we showed we can take on them and win, it's an amazing sensation.


"This is right up there with my finest sporting accomplishments. Football has been my life and when you win a cup final for the fans it is an incredible feeling at a football club, however I enjoy racing and I like the video game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is just wonderful.


"To have a horse that great is unbelievable. I love the video game however to come here on King George day and simply run made me so proud - 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 lucky and everyone was getting on me at the end, however I didn't even understand if I had actually won. Everyone else appeared so confident, however I wasn't sure. It was a dream when they called the winner. I got a big kiss from Sandra at the end as well 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 perhaps epitomized the 78-year-old's supervisory 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 worked his magic once again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase fired up more Cheltenham Festival dreams.


"What a race he has run and he's leapt amazing," stated Redknapp. "When they concerned him I thought he was beat and would end up 4th, however he's come again and the guts the horse has revealed is simply remarkable.


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 simply informing me he does not care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones said he desires more cut and more distance, possibly we get that in March?"


He went on: "I have actually 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 incredible actually. I don't believe we've had a bad horse together."


Set against the backdrop of Kempton's much-publicised prospective closure, it was a King George which served a pointer of why the race's place on the Boxing Day calendar is vital for the sport.


A titanic four-way battle after the last left many describing it as the very best renewal of the Grade One feature they have actually 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 fantastic day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)


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


"I'm delighted for Harry Redknapp and all those connected with Ben Pauling's team and The Jukebox Man and I'm likewise happy for the team here at Kempton Park.


"To have more than 17,000 people through evictions, including sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful reward for all their tough work and long days in the build-up to Christmas and on the day today.


"While there has 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)."