Grade One glory for Redknapp at Kempton with The Jukebox Man

Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man showed a completely different side to his game in running out a ready winner of the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

The former football manager went through agony when seeing his pride and joy agonisingly caught at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but based on this display there are plenty of big days ahead of him.

On his chasing debut at Newbury he went straight to the front and put in some exuberant leaps along the way to winning a Grade Two.

Stepped up to Grade One company and facing an extra half a mile, Ben Jones was happy to take a lead on this occasion.

Trained by Ben Pauling, the heavily-backed 4-6 favourite settled beautifully, and whether he met a fence on a long stride or a short one, his jumping was immaculate.

To Hyland’s credit he tried to make a race of it, but The Jukebox Man had so much scope over his fences that at every obstacle he was gaining ground.

The pace really quickened approaching the second-last, and with The Jukebox Man low and quick over it the race was soon over.

He jumped the final fence cleanly to ran out a two-and-a-half-length winner, giving his rider a first victory at the highest level.

“Ben (Pauling) still feels there is improvement in him,” said Redknapp.

“He normally goes off and is ‘catch me if you can’ but Ben told Ben to sit in behind and he tracked Hyland and picked him off. He said the first time round it was just having a canter round, he was going so easy he always thought he was going to win. It’s nice.

“It’s fantastic, you come into the game to have horses to have days like this. I love it and it’s my passion and I’ve been very lucky. Ben has been a great judge and great trainer of my horses.

“He’s a lovely horse and has had sore heels all week, Ben was really worried about running him. He’s probably the best I’ve had, he’s probably better than Shakemup’Arry who won for me at Cheltenham and has great potential.

“The dream is back to Cheltenham and I was nervous. I watched every jump and holding my breath, it’s worse than football managing.”

Pauling said: “It’s a few years since I’ve won a Grade One, Willoughby Court was my last one

“It’s a huge relief and it’s been an interesting week at home working on his heels to make sure he was here in good health because he had a few sores on his heels and it hasn’t been that smooth. To get him here and get him to win, I know he can be better and it’s very exciting.

“It’s amazing for Harry and the whole team has been phenomenal. It’s been early mornings, late nights, but we’re there. Above water I’ve been a swan, but below I’ve been paddling.

“I doubt he will run again before Cheltenham and he’ll have entries in both the Arkle and Brown Advisory. If it came up heavy and he is feeling A1, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in an Arkle. I think in heavy ground when he’s A1 he could jump anything into submission.”

A jubilant Jones said: “Absolutely buzzing and it is what dreams are made of.

“All week I’ve been like my little girl before Christmas, absolutely revved – but not for Christmas, for Boxing Day. I’m absolutely delighted and it couldn’t have gone better.

“I don’t know how good he is going to be, but he’s the best I’ve ever ridden and if he keeps on winning he keeps the dream still alive. I’ll say we will see him in March now.

“He’s very versatile, has lots of gears, a high cruising speed and also stays three miles. I would say it is one of those where we he will probably be in both (Arkle and Brown Advisory) and it will be ground dependent. It wouldn’t bother me him not running before March. “