Harry Redknapp understands all about sporting delights and spills on Boxing Day, however nothing could 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 prize aloft.
It was 12 months ago the apple of Redknapp and trainer Ben Pauling's eye revealed himself as a top-level performer with triumph on this extremely afternoon, today 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 difficulty 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, shaking off his challengers in a performance that was motivated, ruthless and absolutely brilliant in equal measure. After an age-long wait for the judge to deliver the verdict by a nose, the previous 'King of the Jungle' from ITV's I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! was in no doubt where the moment ranked among his many sporting achievements.
He stated: "We had actually entered into the Premier League with this horse which was wonderful, however today we went Champions League and we were taking on the leading groups, the Real Madrid, the Barcelona and we proved we can take on them and win, it's a fantastic sensation.
"This is right up there with my finest sporting achievements. Football has been my life and when you win a cup last for the fans it is an amazing sensation at a football club, but I enjoy racing and I like the game and the individuals in it - to have a winner like this is simply fantastic.
"To have a horse that great boggles the mind. I like the video game but to come here on King George day and simply run made me so happy - however 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 everyone was jumping on me at the end, but 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 believes I just have that horse."
It was in 2008 that the-then Portsmouth manager Redknapp hoisted the FA Cup aloft just a short drive around the M25 from Kempton at Wembley.
That Pompey team perhaps typified the 78-year-old's supervisory career, but after The Jukebox Man was made 7-1 by a variety of firms 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 fired up more Cheltenham Festival dreams.
"What a race he has actually run and he's jumped unbelievable," stated Redknapp. "When they concerned him I thought he was beat and would end up fourth, but he's come again and the guts the horse has revealed is just incredible.
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 telling me he doesn't care and that they all had us to beat. Ben Jones stated he wants more cut and more range, maybe we get that in March?"
He went on: "I've had my finest 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 remarkable really. I don't think we have actually had a bad horse together."
Set against the background of Kempton's much-publicised potential closure, it was a King George which served a reminder of why the race's location on the Boxing Day calendar is vital for the sport.
A titanic four-way battle after the last left many explaining it as the finest renewal of the Grade One function they have 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 an excellent day of racing at Kempton (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)
Simon Durrant, general supervisor at Kempton Park, stated: "Today was a wonderful example of everything that is excellent about dive racing in Britain.
"I'm thrilled for Harry Redknapp and all those gotten in touch with Ben Pauling's team and The Jukebox Man and I'm likewise happy for the group here at Kempton Park.
"To have more than 17,000 people through the gates, including sold-out hospitality and Premier and Paddock enclosures, is a wonderful benefit for all their effort and long days in the accumulation to Christmas and on the day today.
"While there has actually 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)."