From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton

Harry Redknapp knows everything about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, but absolutely nothing could have prepared him for the drama of Kempton Park, where The Jukebox Man entered the Champions League and left the former Premier League manager holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase prize aloft.


It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and fitness instructor Ben eye announced himself as a high-level performer with victory on this extremely afternoon, but now was his time to show he belonged among the elite.


Dispatched at 7-1 after returning from injury in design at Haydock last month, Redknapp likened the obstacle of handling the may of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson in the Christmas masterpiece to his days in the dugout taking on 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 outstanding kind, brushing off his challengers in a performance that was motivated, relentless and absolutely brilliant in equal step. After an age-long await the judge to deliver the verdict by a nose, the former 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! was in no doubt where the minute ranked amongst his lots of sporting accomplishments.


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


"This is right up there with my best sporting accomplishments. Football has been my life and when you win a cup final for the fans it is an unbelievable feeling at a football club, but I love racing and I love the video game and the people in it - to have a winner like this is just fantastic.


"To have a horse that excellent is astounding. 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 trophy (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 know if I had actually won. Everyone else appeared 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 believes I only have that horse."


It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth supervisor Redknapp hoisted the FA Cup aloft just a short drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.


That Pompey team maybe 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 fired up more Cheltenham Festival dreams.


"What a race he has run and he's jumped incredible," stated Redknapp. "When they came to him I believed he was beat and would end up 4th, however he's returned and the guts the horse has shown is simply remarkable.


Harry Redknapp (centre) and group The Jukebox Man celebrate 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, but he's just informing me he doesn't 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 then to come here today. He's been lucky for me and it's fantastic truly. I do not think we've had a bad horse together."


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


A titanic four-way fight after the last left lots of explaining it as the 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 file through the gates.


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


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


"I'm thrilled for Harry Redknapp and all those connected with Ben Pauling's team and The Jukebox Man and I'm also delighted 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 reward for all their effort 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 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)."