From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton

Harry Redknapp knows all about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, but 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 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 revealed himself as a top-level performer with triumph on this extremely afternoon, and now was his time to prove he belonged amongst the elite.


Sent at 7-1 after returning from injury in style at Haydock last month, Redknapp likened the challenge of taking on the may 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 King George VI with The Jukebox Man pic.twitter.com/oELRQtlpEa


- Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) December 26, 2025


Redknapp' star finalizing remained in stellar form, shaking off his challengers in a performance that was motivated, relentless and utterly dazzling in equal procedure. After an age-long wait for the judge to provide the decision by a nose, the previous 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Star ... Get Me Out of Here! was in no doubt where the minute ranked amongst his lots of sporting achievements.


He said: "We had entered the Premier League with this horse which was great, however today we went Champions League and we were taking on the leading teams, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we showed we can contend with them and win, it's a remarkable feeling.


"This is right up there with my best sporting achievements. 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, but I love racing and I enjoy the game and individuals in it - to have a winner like this is just fantastic.


"To have a horse that great boggles the mind. 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 everybody was getting on me at the end, but I didn't even understand if I had actually won. Everyone else seemed so positive, 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 supervisor Redknapp hoisted the FA Cup aloft just a brief drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.


That Pompey squad possibly represented the 78-year-old's managerial career, 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 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," stated Redknapp. "When they pertained to him I thought he was beat and would end up 4th, but he's come once again and the guts the horse has revealed is simply incredible.


Harry Redknapp (centre) and group The Jukebox Man commemorate at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)


"Ben has been so bullish about this horse and I'm asking him about the opposition, however he's just telling me he does not care and that 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 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 fortunate for me and it's amazing actually. I do not think we have actually had a bad horse together."


Set against the background of Kempton's much-publicised possible closure, it was a King George which served a reminder of why the race's put on the Boxing Day calendar is necessary for the sport.


A titanic four-way battle after the last left numerous describing 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 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 great example of everything that is fantastic about jump racing in Britain.


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


"To have more than 17,000 individuals through the gates, consisting of sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a great benefit for all their difficult 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)."