Backed the winner of the Gold Cup myself so no financial loss.
However owner Harry Rednapp stated in an interview with Sean Ingle in The Guardian that his horse (the 3rd favourite) had missed a week's work during the time leading up to the race.
Mr Rednapp also admitted 'we didn't say anything. My question would be why not?
Obviously horses don't miss a day's work in the weeks leading up to one of the biggest races of the year unless there was some sort of problem.
The trainer also must have known but could they both not have had the decency to inform punters who would have been considering backing the horse and those 'in the know' may have used this information to lay the horse.
The trainer has stated the horse 'had made a noise' and now may need a breathing operation.
1st time he did not, he was on local news lots all week, not a mention, just playing the nice old guy living out a dream. He’s full of it, most likely other people’s stories he tells!
1st time he did not, he was on local news lots all week, not a mention, just playing the nice old guy living out a dream. He’s full of it, most likely other people’s stories he tells!
he give an interview to times or telegraph told them Ben,s just Ben on the phone the horse has some sort of breathing problem,how do you think people got to no about it,if Ben or arry hadn't told anyone ?
he give an interview to times or telegraph told them Ben,s just Ben on the phone the horse has some sort of breathing problem,how do you think people got to no about it,if Ben or arry hadn't told anyone ?
Have a look on the Cheltenham section mate, the thing is it wasn’t just them that kept quiet, it was the whole lot of them!
I feel for anyone who didn’t hear about it and was taken in by them, non exchange readers.
The simple answer to your question is, they didn’t care about the average joe or us punters.
The original article was by The Times.
Have a look on the Cheltenham section mate, the thing is it wasn’t just them that kept quiet, it was the whole lot of them!I feel for anyone who didn’t hear about it and was taken in by them, non exchange readers. The simple answer to your questi
The first that the post told people WAS the day of the race on their live feed!
It was a hot potato that no one wanted to talk about publicly! Why because of the implications of animal welfare!
The first that the post told people WAS the day of the race on their live feed! It was a hot potato that no one wanted to talk about publicly! Why because of the implications of animal welfare!
JohanntheGoatHurdler • March 13, 2026 12:30 PM GMT
Redknapp now saying TJM had a setback last week. There was a rumour about breathing issues on here? Soft ground and the hill...
Report• Quote • Block User Delashay • March 13, 2026 12:30 PM GMT Ohhh has he really?!
Report• Quote • Block User Delashay • March 13, 2026 12:32 PM GMT I’d posted the story from the Times on the Cheltenham section, many thought that it was a wind up! Was wondering if any journo without their heads up someone’s backside was going to ask about the article in The Times?
Report• Quote • Block User Delashay • March 13, 2026 12:34 PM GMT He saying it on RTV Johann? Report• Quote • Block User JohanntheGoatHurdler • March 13, 2026 12:36 PM GMT Sky Sports Racing- also on the Racing Post website now.
HERE : you can see from the convo on Gold Cup Day the moment that the story was released and where! Oh and the time!
Let’s not forget chaps that not everyone has Sky so wouldn’t have see or heard, I wasn’t watching as I was on terrestrial seeing if they’d ask for the people and do their jobs!
JohanntheGoatHurdler • March 13, 2026 12:30 PM GMTRedknapp now saying TJM had a setback last week.There was a rumour about breathing issues on here?Soft ground and the hill...Report• Quote • Block User Delashay • March 13, 2026 12:30 PM GMTO
Remember when just after he left the Southampton F.C managers 2nd Dec 2005 job he stated 'how could I ever go back to managing Portsmouth after being with The saints'
However less than 1 week later he was back in charge of Pompey!
There was a betting market on that event on here and plenty lost a lot!
Harry's got form!Remember when just after he left the Southampton F.C managers 2nd Dec 2005 job he stated'how could I ever go back to managing Portsmouth after being with The saints'However less than 1 week later he was back in charge of Pompey!There
From the Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/13/harry-redknapp-gold-cup-spurs-cheltenham-festival-horse-racing
For a long way he allowed himself to dream as The Jukebox Man jumped beautifully and maintained close order in second place. But when battle was joined with two fences remaining The Jukebox Man suddenly ran out of petrol as Gaelic Warrior took over and powered clear to win ahead of Jango Baie.
Afterwards, Redknapp revealed there were excuses as The Jukebox Man had missed a week’s work in the buildup to the race – but he didn’t want to make them. His trainer, Ben Pauling, also disclosed that the horse “had made a noise” and Redknapp said his runner may need a breathing operation.
“He travelled great until two out, and then he seemed to just fall in a bit of a hole,” explained Redknapp. “But overall he jumped a great run and he’s come back, hopefully safe and sound, which is the main thing.
“He missed a week’s work,” he added. “I’m not blaming it. I’m not making excuses. We didn’t say anything. But he simply just ran out of steam today. I’m not saying he would have won. The winner was amazing. Different class. He absolutely bolted up, didn’t he?”
From the Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/13/harry-redknapp-gold-cup-spurs-cheltenham-festival-horse-racingFor a long way he allowed himself to dream as The Jukebox Man jumped beautifully and maintained close order in second place
This is a minefield, but I am not sure how it improves. We have a sport where there are serious questions over how the leading trainer campaigns his horses, but it's just accepted so if that's okay, what isn't?
The cheerleading brigade will big up Pauling blah blah blah. When does that stop? Answer it doesn't because cheerleading is all they do. Pauling was on several preview panels, but he chose to say nothing. The bottom line is nobody in the sport, and that includes the media, care two hoots about the average punter. The media probably get to hear loads of things that are never relayed to the public. They know very well where their bread is buttered. It's a sham.
This horse is probably only the tip of an iceberg. We are only discussing it because it was eventually revealed. How many issues were not revealed, and will never be revealed. I asked the question about the alarming drift in Golden Ace. Plenty saying she represented the solid option, but that didn't stop the bookmakers drifting her out 6/1-14/1. Were they just guessing? She only finished close to fourth because Alexei made a horlicks of the last. She's a strong stayer, and that was easily the tamest finish she has ever produced at Cheltenham. Initially, the trainer sounded confident - best she had ever been - but on the eve of the race he was just hoping for the best. What had changed?
This is a minefield, but I am not sure how it improves. We have a sport where there are serious questions over how the leading trainer campaigns his horses, but it's just accepted so if that's okay, what isn't?The cheerleading brigade will big up Pau
and when he was at QPR said his knees were too far gone to carry on going training! Says a lot, pinch a salt!
Yes, Harry Redknapp managed two teams after leaving Queens Park Rangers in February 2015. Following his departure from QPR, he took charge of the Jordan national team for a short stint in March 2016 and subsequently managed Birmingham City in 2017.
Pinch a salt!
I remember Kenneth and when he was at QPR said his knees were too far gone to carry on going training! Says a lot, pinch a salt! Yes, Harry Redknapp managed two teams after leaving Queens Park Rangers in February 2015. Following his departure from QP
Great points Diff and I’m in agreement, the same could be said about Ma Shantou, it drifted randomly a stinker and many put it up.
This certainly makes me think twice before getting on and the amount because there’s too much that we will never know, as you say it’s the tip of an iceberg.
I had to laugh at RP talking about horse safety on the Op show yesterday after the losses, he said we need to have “”more reasearch and statistics to study…”” (something pathetic like that)
Great points Diff and I’m in agreement, the same could be said about Ma Shantou, it drifted randomly a stinker and many put it up. This certainly makes me think twice before getting on and the amount because there’s too much that we will never kn
1st time poster, where did Harry " tell the world " ?? Any evidence ?
The interview I saw on ITV just before the race and Harry said everything was fine. Strange one.
1st time poster, where did Harry " tell the world " ?? Any evidence ? The interview I saw on ITV just before the race and Harry said everything was fine. Strange one.
Agree with every word Diff drum but would Race Post cover this in detail?
Probably not because they would fall off the gravy train
but if it was a FTSE company who failed to mention something that could affect the share price heads would roll.
Agree with every word Diff drum but would Race Post cover this in detail?Probably not because they would fall off the gravy train but if it was a FTSE company who failed to mention something that could affect the share price heads would roll.
Racing Post are a big part of the problem. Negatives only come out when they are virtually forced out. When you have an open forum like this, which really should be arguing for punters, and it's still full of defensive attitudes which should belong in the distant past, you know what you are up against.
Just going back to Redknapp, does racing really need to go to such lengths to emphasise the involvement of a few 'celebrities'? As Acheson suggested, the stars are the horses, not the people paying the cheques.
Racing Post are a big part of the problem. Negatives only come out when they are virtually forced out. When you have an open forum like this, which really should be arguing for punters, and it's still full of defensive attitudes which should belong i
This is what Ricci (owner of Gaelic Warrior) said on 'Luck On Sunday': "I've always wanted to win the Gold Cup and wanted to run even if Fact To File (FTF) was there. To win the two races was just incredible and I'm very grateful."
I think the horse's participation uncertainty has put off a lot of punters wanting to back Gaelic Warrior further (me included). Mr Mullins and Mr Walsh had insinuated only either would run. Also, Ricci had a history for double-talking with Vautour eg the Gold Cup or he'd stay in his box.
This is what Ricci (owner of Gaelic Warrior) said on 'Luck On Sunday': "I've always wanted to win the Gold Cup and wanted to run even if Fact To File (FTF) was there. To win the two races was just incredible and I'm very grateful."I think the horse's
It was so disappointing, jumped beautifully, at the top of the hill second time you were preparing for something quite special as he was tanking along, then he just cut out. It wasn't down to missing a bit of work, or not staying. He has the ability and outbattled the first 2 in Kempton. I think in an ideal world he might have been a bit more patient, but that's not why he cut out so suddenly. At least we should get to see him again.
It was so disappointing, jumped beautifully, at the top of the hill second time you were preparing for something quite special as he was tanking along, then he just cut out. It wasn't down to missing a bit of work, or not staying. He has the ability
Just to emphasise how bad the Racing Post is their headline for most of today has been Skelton bigging up one of Segal's ante-post bets. Presumably, Skelton has got no idea how useless Segal's tipping has been at the Festival? It certainly isn't a cause for celebration.
Just to emphasise how bad the Racing Post is their headline for most of today has been Skelton bigging up one of Segal's ante-post bets. Presumably, Skelton has got no idea how useless Segal's tipping has been at the Festival? It certainly isn't a ca
It’s not just the Post Diff but the presenters too as I’ve said, all are culpable. Wonder how much was made from this not so public info from those on the inside? That’s what this situation does, leaves them well open to speculation on integrity as well as the animals well being vs the owners day out.
Cider I suspect that they heard the noise at home, it didn’t just happen, but to do those short vids meant that Harry and the trainer were lying through their teeth, barefaced to us all.
Notice Glass that 1st time couldn’t reply?
Harry’s own words , “ We didn’t say anything.”
Impossible Gaelic Warrior was always destined for this race, where FTF was to run was another story that open to interpretation of integrity.
It’s not just the Post Diff but the presenters too as I’ve said, all are culpable. Wonder how much was made from this not so public info from those on the inside? That’s what this situation does, leaves them well open to speculation on integrit