Cheltenham Festival
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
I haven’t seen any mention of this and the trainer didn’t say anything on Saturday, has this been widely reported as it coincided with Rednapps birthday on the 2nd March.
DAVID WALSH
‘My nan took bets from the old girls’ – Harry Redknapp on life and CheltenhamFormer Spurs manager, 79, goes into next week’s festival with a huge chance of winning the Gold Cup… and still has plenty of unexpected anecdotes to tell
I remark on how well he looks on his 79th birthday. But life isn’t perfect. He tells me he’s just had a call from from Ben Pauling, The Jukebox Man’s trainer, who said he was sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The horse had a slight setback. Something not 100 per cent with his breathing, but the vet was going to have a look. The trainer was hopeful the horse would still be OK for the Gold Cup.
Later in the day, Redknapp speaks to the vet who is also hopeful the horse will be fully recovered for the big race. This is the way of racing. A lucky owner is a phone call away from becoming an unlucky owner. “I know there is only one Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the horse won’t run unless he’s 100 per cent right,” Harry says.
DAVID WALSH
‘My nan took bets from the old girls’ – Harry Redknapp on life and CheltenhamFormer Spurs manager, 79, goes into next week’s festival with a huge chance of winning the Gold Cup… and still has plenty of unexpected anecdotes to tell
I remark on how well he looks on his 79th birthday. But life isn’t perfect. He tells me he’s just had a call from from Ben Pauling, The Jukebox Man’s trainer, who said he was sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The horse had a slight setback. Something not 100 per cent with his breathing, but the vet was going to have a look. The trainer was hopeful the horse would still be OK for the Gold Cup.
Later in the day, Redknapp speaks to the vet who is also hopeful the horse will be fully recovered for the big race. This is the way of racing. A lucky owner is a phone call away from becoming an unlucky owner. “I know there is only one Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the horse won’t run unless he’s 100 per cent right,” Harry says.
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 26
|
By:
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, he’s a crafty one, so trust on these sort of Jackanory’s is especially short!
 |
|
By:
Billys are offering 5/1 special price, which is enough to put me off.
|
|
By:
And other bookie reps were tipping it yesterday
|
|
By:
But has anyone read this supposed news elsewhere about hi having this so close to the race?
|
|
By:
I thought it was someone taking the mickey. I hope the horse is ok and runs on friday. It's cruel if this rumour is true, and the racing papers have blanked it.
|
|
By:
No impossible it’s from the newspaper and a family member sent it knowing that I’d lumped on for the King George
|
|
By:
This renewal is very low key for me. So far only wagered £25 in total.
|
|
By:
The OP is an absolute binlid an has caught improbable on a thin line
|
|
By:
Thanks for sharing your opinion Ben the article is legit and worth a read unlike your posts!
 |
|
By:
https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/harry-redknapp-cheltenham-the-jukebox-man-0k36w2dtv
|
|
By:
Seeing as two from 3 bookie reps from very big companies with lots of tv advertising were tipping the horse 3 days back I thought that this article was especially interesting!
As said we’ll see how it plays out… Impossible best to hold ‘em when you don’t fancy much. Good luck! |
|
By:
Thought you were fishing
|
|
By:
Nah mate, I was shocked to read this, I’ve not been keeping up to date with the racing, jumps isn’t my thing really, but have been looking the last weeks and seen NO word of this in the racing press.
Pauling was interviewed Saturday, the interviewer made no mention of it nor did he. Then I see at the beginning of the week that the two big firms were tipping him! I’m intrigued was Harry trying to put a cat amongst them and get a bigger price? Or have they all been holding it back and the horse has had a recent respiratory problem, which going into a gruelling race like the Gold Cup which isn’t good. Will the horse run anyway despite missing work? Just so that Harry has Cheltenham runner with him this year as he missed last years festival and of course a runner in the main event? All questions that need to be asked I’d of thought? Good luck all, this was posted as a heads up. |
|
By:
I searched respiratory problem and AI brought it up (from this article is expect) but no other sign. I’ve not looked if it was layed or drifted on or around the 2nd which is when his birthday was.
|
|
By:
Delashay • March 8, 2026 7:19 PM GMT
Who do you fancy for the Gold Cup? bet365, Pat Cooney I think The Jukebox Man won the King George at Kempton despite the track and trip, and he may well improve again at this tougher course. The dry forecast will also give him his optimum ground conditions and the stamina test should play to his strengths. Betfair, James Mackie The Jukebox Man can add to his King George success. He's been primed for this race all season, is one of the best jumpers in the field and is one of the more likely stayers of the trip in the contest. Coral, Andrew Lobo, Coral In the absence of Fact To File, I’ll plump for Grey Dawning, who has probably been saved for this as his long-term target. And Andy has pointed out Bills is going biggest whilst 3** were shortest on JB! Not JBM! |
|
By:
Delashay • March 8, 2026 7:19 PM GMT
brandyontherocks • February 28, 2026 6:48 PM GMT Do you think bookie sponsored podcasts give out tips they think will lose? I believe that we can quite catorgorivally say YES!  Look back at that AW PC bet365, Pat Cooney I think The Jukebox Man won the King George at Kempton despite the track and trip, and he may well improve again at this tougher course. The dry forecast will also give him his optimum ground conditions and the stamina test should play to his strengths. Formbook shows Pat that he’d won the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase over C&D in ‘24! , “Despite the track and trip…” what of the King George?!  |
|
By:
Despicable from all you journos riding the gravy train who NEVER asked once on terrestrial tv about this setback!
WADBOC! |
|
By:
Ben Jones was asked by Chapman was the distance a problem? He said the trip wasn’t a problem.
Did not look happy, still Harry had had a day out and the racing journos have made a mint no doubt, but they haven’t done their jobs! Ed and AP , “Jukeboxman on the rail, just wasn’t quite to be….” AP ,”No wasn’t quite to be, probably wasn’t in the same form when he won the KG….” Kick on and you RedCrap! “We think he’s got a little wind problem that we need to sort out.” |
|
By:
There was truth in that post then. A windy problemo.
|
|
By:
Yes Impossible sadly the horse HAS been run despite not being 100% and I think that it’s disgusting, this leaves many questions about the sport and those involved and make a living from it.
|
|
By:
These are results for harry redknapp jukebox man has a wind problem
AI Overview Yes, Harry Redknapp indicated that his horse, The Jukebox Man, had a wind issue following a race in March 2026. According to reports from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, Redknapp stated after the race, “I think he's got a little wind problem we need to sort out". The Guardian Key Details: The Issue: Redknapp noted the horse was traveling well until the second-to-last fence before the issue became apparent. Context: The comment was made at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in March, where the horse was competing in high-level jumps races, having previously won the King George VI Chase. Performance: Despite the mentioned issue, The Jukebox Man has been a successful horse for Redknapp, described as a "dream come true" and a key contender in major races. +3 "Wind problems" in horse racing typically refer to breathing issues that can affect a horse's performance in the final stages of a race. |
|
By:
8
3¾ [31¼] Runner Jacket 11. The Jukebox Man (IRE) 7/2 Ben Jones Ben Pauling 8 1110 168 154 152 – Disputed lead, headed and prominent after 2nd, briefly disputed lead after 3 out, weakened 2 out (trainer said gelding made a respiratory noise) (tchd 9/2) I think your reputation as a trainer is in tatters, this is a delight for the anti racing brigade. Maybe you should be waterboarded and see if you like struggling for breath? Or you Harry? |
|
By:
Trainer say horse made a noise, it did, it asked what the winner had for breakfast.
|
|
By:
And which way it went.
|
|
By:
They ran the horse despite knowing that it wasn’t right, that’s disgusting as are all the people in the press and racing media, who never pressed on this story. No one asked had it missed work, instead they promoted a fairly tale about a crooked character.
I sincerely hope that this thread and info put anyone off who was considering backing the horse who only ran to give the owner a day out. |
|
By:
Delashay • March 10, 2026 7:19 AM GMT
https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/harry-redknapp-cheltenham-th... How many people read The Times or caught it Sunday? 1st time? In the story on here he tells of how Paulin told him that two of his new horses were ready to go about 16/1 & 14/1 Says how he normally does a monkey EW and double on top, he said he didn’t believe they were ready so didn’t do the double and missed out on 100,000 pay out because of it. So another reason might be greed? I backed Gaelic Warrior and have no pocket invested, just don’t like what’s gone on. |