Redknapp's The Jukebox Man wins King George
by Ben Collins · BBC SportHarry Redknapp's The Jukebox Man rallied at the last to clinch a thrilling victory in the King George VI Chase.
The Grade One race at Kempton Park went down to a photo-finish with last year's winner Banbridge and 9-4 joint-favourite Gaelic Warrior.
Owner Redknapp faced an anxious wait before the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham manager could celebrate winning the Boxing Day showpiece.
The trio went into the final fence of the three-mile race together, with The Jukebox Man coming down in third.
But Ben Jones led the 7-1 shot, trained by Ben Pauling, back between his two rivals.
Although the Joseph O'Brien-trained Banbridge (16-1) edged fractionally in front, Redknapp's charge dug deep to win by a nose, with Gaelic Warrior a similar margin back in third.
Before the race, Redknapp said "we've come into the Champions League today", and the victory is worth £142,375 to the 78-year-old.
Redknapp, who retired from management after leaving Birmingham City in 2017, was trembling as he spoke to ITV Racing moments after his winner was confirmed.
"It is a dream, to have a horse that good is unbelievable," he said. "I love the game that much.
"To come here on King George day and just run made me so proud, but to have the winner is special. I am so lucky."
Joint-favourite Jango Baie was a length back going into the final fence and was closing on the lead trio right up to the line.
"After he jumped the last, I thought he was going to finish fourth because they came to him from all sides," said Redknapp. "But he's come again and the guts the horse has shown is just amazing.
"Everyone was jumping on me at the end and I didn't know I had won.
"But we had a lot of support here today and I love the racing, I love the game, I love the people in it, so to have a winner on the big stage is fantastic."
'The best we've achieved to date'
Il Est Francais, who finished second to Banbridge last year, led for most of the race before The Jukebox Man moved to the front before the final bend.
The eight runners were tightly grouped as they straightened up for home and then four went clear, with The Jukebox Man emerging victorious.
It was a fourth straight win for the seven-year-old, a run which included victory here in last year's Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
"I thought I'd won by a head and didn't have anything to worry about it," said jockey Jones.
Trainer Pauling added: "It was an incredible race. It was always going to be a proper horse race but to turn in with as many in with a chance as there was, that was exceptional.
"For us, it's huge. I was delighted it was a proper ding-dong of a race, and you want to win the good ones.
"It's something very special. Harry has been an exceptional owner. I've always had huge faith in this horse and so has Harry.
"We've won Festival races and we've won Grade Ones, but this is the best we've achieved to date."
Sir Gino makes triumphant return
Earlier in the day, Sir Gino made his eagerly-anticipated return with an impressive win in the Christmas Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's charge had not raced since the Wayward Lad Novices' here 12 months ago as an infection curtailed his season.
The five-year-old's stablemate Constitution Hill won this race in each of the past three seasons.
Sir Gino came in as the 4-7 favourite and jockey Nico de Boinville pushed the pace throughout to win by six lengths from Golden Ace, with Rubaud in third.
In the meeting's other Grade One race, Kitzbuhel produced a fine front-running display to win the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
After a triumphant chasing debut at Punchestown last month, the five-year-old stepped up in trip and class for the three-miler.
Paul Townend soon led the 13-8 favourite to the front and he sailed over the final fences to win by two-and-three-quarter-lengths.
That gave trainer Willie Mullins his first victory in the race, with Thomas Mor finishing second and Wendigo third.
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