Former Tottenham, West Ham, and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp praises the bravery of top jump jockeys, describing them as far tougher than modern footballers ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Targeting Gold Cup Glory
Redknapp, now a racehorse owner, aims for success in the prestigious Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Among his 26 horses, he fully owns The Jukebox Man, the 4-1 third favorite. Welsh jockey Ben Jones will ride the eight-year-old gelding, which secured victory in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Redknapp highlights the resilience of jump jockeys: “They’re amazing. They get injured and then they’re back three weeks later. They’re not like footballers, are they? They’re incredible.”
Praise for Trainer Ben Pauling
Redknapp compares trainer Ben Pauling, based in Naunton near Cheltenham Racecourse, to a football manager. “Ben’s like a football manager. He’s got to go and sign good horses—if you’re a football manager, you’ve got to sign good players or you’ve got no chance.”
He adds: “Ben’s a top trainer and a good communicator. He’s one of those guys who always answers the phone and has a chat. I’ve been very lucky with the horses I’ve had with him. He gave me a Cheltenham winner and hasn’t bought me a bad horse. Everything he’s bought me so far has been good.”
Other Contenders and Optimism
Taurus Bay, another of Redknapp’s standout horses, competes in Wednesday’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
The 78-year-old owner shares his excitement: “I’ve had an awful lot of horses, still got an awful lot, but this one has taken us to places that you only dream about as a racehorse owner. He’s my dream, he’s not for sale and he wouldn’t be for sale at any price.”
Redknapp remains realistic: “I’m not saying we’re going to win it. We’ve got a serious horse, it’s an open race, and I think we’ve got as good a chance as anything.”
At public Q&A events, audiences focus more on The Jukebox Man than his football career. “People ask me about The Jukebox Man more than football,” he notes. “I’ve been to theatres for Q&As and they all come up to me afterwards about him.”
