Harry Redknapp’s horse has claimed a famous Boxing Day triumph in the King George VI Chase.
The Jukebox Man, who went into the race as a 7-1 outsider, edged out defending champion Banbridge along with Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in a thrilling finish at the three-mile Kempton Park showpieve.
In what was one of the most dramatic endings to the festive feature’s history, Redknapp, as well as jockey Ben Jones and trainer Ben Pauling, were forced to wait more than a minute before learning whether they had won.
Such was the closeness of the photo-finish between The Jukebox Man, Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior, that the judge required an extended review to separate the front three.
But when the verdict finally came, it confirmed The Jukebox Man’s famous victory – confirming a payout of £142,375 for Redknapp, who couldn’t hide his emotion after the race.
‘It is a dream, to have a horse that good,’ the former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss told ITV Racing.
The Jukebox Man – owned by Harry Redknapp – has claimed a King George Chase VI victory
Redknapp embraced Ben Jones after claiming the stunning win at the three-mile Kempton Park
The judge required more than a minute to separate the front three after a tense photo finish
‘I love the game that much. The guts the horse has shown is amazing, I thought he was going to come fourth. Everyone was jumping on me at the end and I didn’t know I had won.
‘I love the racing and the game, the people in it, and to have a winner on the big stage is fantastic.’
The victory for Jones also puts him alongside a host of the sport’s greatest-ever jockeys to have won the King George.
‘It was a long old wait, but it was worth it,’ the Welshman told RacingTV in his post-race interview. ‘Full credit to Ben [Pauling] and the team. It would have been disappointing to lose it today, so I’m delighted.’
He added: ‘It’s fantastic. Not only for Ben, but for Harry Redknapp, to have full belief in us and the team. Just to give [The Jukebox Man] time and let him fully develop, and get over his little problems.
‘He’s a fantastic horse, and I’m delighted to be part of the train as it’s going forward.’
It comes just days after the former Redknapp spoke with Daily Mail Sport about his quiet optimism going into the race, saying said he hoped his horse would ‘run like Gareth Bale‘.
‘Of course I’m nervous!’ the 78-year-old said. ‘I hold my breath at every fence he jumps. Every day you just hope he is safe and sound.
‘When Ben bought him, we hoped he would be okay. You know how difficult it is to get a decent one but here we are. I hope he can run like Gareth Bale!
‘You live in hope. I do lay in bed and think about him jumping the last and going clear. He did at Cheltenham, didn’t he? He was five lengths in front and then the horse he had got past battled back to beat him.
‘It was like being two-up after 90 minutes and the fourth official puts up three minutes. Then bang, bang, bang it’s 3-2. Oh my God! I’m not going there thinking: ‘we are going to win’ – how could I? You’ve got one from Nicky Henderson’s yard, Willie Mullins is sending two. But we’ve got a chance. And we’ll give it our best.’
