Harry Redknapp says there were no excues after his horse The Jukebox Man fell away in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and that winning the race would have been like winning the Champions League.
Redknapp’s lifelong love of horseracing reached its zenith on a sunny afternoon at Prestbury Park as he, along with wife Sandra and son Jamie, cheered on the eight-year-old who was well placed heading to home.
The Jukebox Man then ran out of steam having kept up with the leader, Haiti Couleurs, before being passed by eventual winner Gaelic Warrior with two fences to jump.
“Yeah, absolutely [it would have been like winning the Champions League] if we had won here today, but Gaelic Warrior was fantastic. My God, didn’t he win? Really impressive,” said Redknapp after the race.
“Yeah, he traveled great until two out, and then he just seemed to just fall in a bit of a hole, but overall he jumped great, run great and he’s come back, hopefully safe and sound, which is the main thing.”
The 79-year-old then explained that his horse had missed a week of work before coming to the Festival but refused to use that as an excuse for his loss.
“He missed a week’s work and I’m not blaming it, I’m not making excuses,” Redknapp explained, “The winner won, different class but he did miss a week’s work. He simply just ran out of steam today.”
Redknapp went on to explain what his week at Cheltenham has been like and how he has revelled in then build-up to having a Gold Cup running horse.
He said: “I’ve loved it. It’s been a great week. The build up and the dream and everything. I’ve loved it. To have a runner here with a chance was fantastic for me.
“I’m not saying he would have won. The winner was amazing. That was absolute Gaelic warrior today. He absolutely bolted up, didn’t it? But we’ve had another great run for him again today. Yeah, he’s jumped, well, run well. So, yeah, that’s how it goes.”
In spite of the obvious disappointment, Redknapp remained positive and praised how his horse had captured the hearts of the nation.
He ended by saying “that’s why it would have been great today if he could have won it. He didn’t but he came and give his best shot.”
Redknapp’s only previous success at the Cheltenham Festival came in 2024 when Shakem Up’Arry won the Plate Handicap Chase but the step up to the Gold Cup brings him into the upper echelon of successful owners.
