From King Of The Jungle To King Of Kempton

Harry Redknapp understands everything about sporting thrills 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 previous Premier League manager holding the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trophy up.


It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and fitness instructor Ben Pauling's eye revealed himself as a top-level performer with success on this really afternoon, however 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 compared the challenge of taking on the might of Willie Mullins and Nicky in the Christmas masterpiece 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 signing remained in excellent kind, shrugging off his oppositions in an efficiency that was inspired, unrelenting and absolutely dazzling in equal step. 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 Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! remained in no doubt where the minute ranked amongst his numerous sporting achievements.


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


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


"To have a horse that good is astounding. I enjoy the game but 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 trophy (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)


"I'm so lucky and everyone was jumping on me at the end, however I didn't even know if I had actually won. Everyone else seemed so positive, 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 thinks I just 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 possibly epitomized the 78-year-old's managerial profession, 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 once again as his ₤ 70,000 purchase ignited more Cheltenham Festival dreams.


"What a race he has actually run and he's jumped astounding," stated Redknapp. "When they came to him I thought he was beat and would end up fourth, however he's come again and the guts the horse has actually shown is simply fantastic.


Harry Redknapp (centre) and group 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, but he's just telling me he does not care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones stated he wants more cut and more range, 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 then to come here today. He's been fortunate for me and it's amazing really. I do not believe 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 suggestion of why the race's put on the Boxing Day calendar is necessary for the sport.


A titanic four-way fight 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 an excellent day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)


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


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


"To have more than 17,000 individuals through evictions, consisting of sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a fantastic 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 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)."