Tag Archive for: The Jukebox Man

Pauling provides ‘really positive’ update on The Jukebox Man

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On January 28, Harry Redknapp received the news he had been terrified of hearing from Ben Pauling.

All trainers dread having to ring an owner to inform them of an injured member of their string, even more so when it’s a Grade One winner with the world at his feet and with the Cheltenham Festival the next destination on his path to stardom.

However, after The Jukebox Man was cruelly ruled out for the season, there now appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after the Naunton Downs handler delivered a positive bulletin on his exciting gelding’s well-being.

Harry Redknapp (left) with trainer Ben Pauling (centre) and jockey Ben Jones (right)
Harry Redknapp (left) with trainer Ben Pauling (centre) and jockey Ben Jones (right) (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)

“The Jukebox Man is great and it’s all really positive,” said Pauling.

“It’s a phone call you never want to make and I speak to Harry every day. But as soon as I told him, he said it was the call he had been dreading for a month because when you are as competitive and successful as Harry is, to have a horse at that level is where he wants to be.

“However, all of the main bandages are now off and there’s no swelling. He’s sound and he will probably start his walker work soon. From where we were, we’re delighted.”

The Jukebox Man had shot towards the top of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase betting after dazzling as an odds-on favourite in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

It was a popular victory among those in attendance at the Sunbury track, as the FA Cup-winning manager registered his first Grade One triumph as an owner.

And although Redknapp’s pride and joy will not be able to make up for last year’s agonising Cheltenham Festival reversal this month, Pauling is confident there will be many great days ahead after the seven-year-old’s pleasing recovery.

“It was an extraordinary one for me, as I’ve never had a Grade One runner that was odds-on and that is the scenario where anything other than a win is a disaster,” continued Pauling.

“But he travelled and he jumped and just took it up when he wanted – and it was perfect. I think the crowd on Boxing Day really appreciated the performance he put in.

Harry Redknapp is no stranger to sporting success
Harry Redknapp is no stranger to sporting success (Steven Paston/PA)

“It meant so much to Harry and he was just terrified of it going wrong and it has, but it is not for long and it will do him no harm whatsoever to not go to Cheltenham this year, he doesn’t need to go there.

“Obviously, if he were fit and well, he would be going there with bells on and we’d all be excited, but it will not affect his career.”

He went on: “It (his recovery) couldn’t have gone better really and it gives you every faith. The way it has gone, touch wood, he’s almost going to be back in exercise before the summer, then he can go out and have his summer and then we can have a proper season next year. He’s going to be well handicapped.

“I think Harry has a lot to do with his popularity and I think people have latched onto him because they believe Harry and can trust Harry because he is such a nice man. To see him have a Grade One horse is great.”

Pauling hoping for Handstands boost via Scilly success

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Handstands bids to end a difficult week on a high for trainer Ben Pauling in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

The Naunton Downs handler suffered a major blow on Tuesday when he announced that his stable star The Jukebox Man, a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, would miss the rest of the season due to injury.

While Handstands has not yet scaled those heights, he gets his shot at Grade One glory on Saturday following successive Grade Two wins in the Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the rescheduled Towton Novices’ Chase at Ffos Las.

The six-year-old is rated lower than Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie and the Paul Nicholls-trained Kalif Du Berlais, his two chief rivals in this weekend’s Esher feature, but Ben Pauling is confident his charge can make his presence felt.

“He’s in great order, he came out of Ffos Las brilliantly well and I couldn’t be any happier with him,” he said.

“There’s only four of us in it and four nice horses. Two of them are really particularly smart, but I think he’s earned his place and I probably wouldn’t swap him for anything, really.”

Handstands came home clear of a solitary rival at Ffos Las after the other four runners either fell or unseated their riders, but Pauling does not feel he was flattered.

He added: “You can only beat what’s in front of you and I may be proved wrong, but I would probably say that the reason everyone started falling like flies in the home straight was because he put the pressure on leaving the back straight and quickened again in the home straight.

“I think he deserves his chance at a big one and I can’t wait to see how he gets on.”

Jockey Ben Jones celebrates winning the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on The Jukebox Man
Jockey Ben Jones celebrates winning the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on The Jukebox Man (Steven Paston/The Jockey Club)

The trainer also provided a positive update on The Jukebox Man, who he hopes will return as good as ever later in the year.

He said: “Everything happens for a reason and his operation has gone well. He had his cast off today and they (vets) seem happy with his progress so far, so we’ll see how he is next week and probably get him home then.

“If all continues to go well, then he will be back in the autumn with everything to play for.”

Kalif Du Berlais would be a poignant winner of the Scilly Isles following the death of his part-owner John Hales, but it is Jango Baie who heads the market following an impressive start to his career over fences at Cheltenham in December.

Jango Baie clears the final fence at Cheltenham
Jango Baie clears the final fence at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

In his Unibet blog, Henderson said: “We are obviously quite pleased that connections have decided to run Impaire Et Passe at the Willie Mullins Racing Festival (Dublin Racing Festival), but that doesn’t detract from the quality of this race, because it’s an extremely competitive affair.

“Jango Baie is 5lb better off at the weights with Handstands on their running in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, when he was second, beaten a length and a half, but that was a year ago, and over hurdles, so there is probably nothing between them.

“I thought Kalif Du Berlais was impressive at Cheltenham and that form has worked out well subsequently.

“Our horse has entries in the Arkle and Brown Advisory and we’ll see what happens here before we even consider looking at Cheltenham, but he’s in very good form and I am extremely happy with him coming into this.”

Gary and Josh Moore’s outsider Mark Of Gold completes the field.

Huge blow for Pauling and Redknapp with The Jukebox Man out of Cheltenham

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Star novice chaser The Jukebox Man has been ruled out for the season after suffering injury.

Narrowly denied in the Albert Barlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, the Harry Redknapp-owned gelding has made an excellent start to his career over fences, impressing at Newbury on his debut before dominating the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Connections had been looking forward to a return to Cheltenham in March for either the Arkle Trophy or the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but the seven-year-old is now set for a period on the sidelines.

Harry Redknapp (second right) with The Jukebox Man at Kempton Park
Harry Redknapp (second right) with The Jukebox Man at Kempton Park (John Walton/PA)

In a statement posted on X, trainer Ben Pauling said: “The Jukebox Man has this morning sustained an injury during routine exercise that will sadly rule him out for the rest of the season.

“At this early stage, the feedback from our veterinary team and the specialists is positive that we can look forward to seeing him return in the autumn.

“It is a huge blow for all involved and every care is being taken for one of our stable’s leading lights.

“We will update you on his recovery in due course.”

Ben Jones hoping for rain ahead of Grade One challenge for Handstands

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Ben Jones is praying for rain to allow Handstands to line-up in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on Saturday week, as he continues to relish his dream season in the saddle aboard Ben Pauling’s aces.

The Welshman has become an integral part in Pauling’s thriving string and is currently well on track to eclipse last year’s career best number of winners.

One of the star performers in the trainer/jockey combination’s budding association is the Radford Family-owned Handstands, who has looked the full package this season since sent novice chasing.

Winner of the Grade Two Esher Novices’ Chase before Christmas, he added a second at that level when claiming the rearranged Towton Novices’ Chase in impressive style at Ffos Las recently, with a first attempt at the highest level over fences now looming back at Sandown on February 1.

“Handstands has come out of Ffos Las brilliantly, when he came back into the paddock after the race you wouldn’t have thought he had a race, he was absolutely bouncing,” said Jones.

“I would have been fairly shocked if it turned out he was tired a week after and thankfully he has come out of the race right as rain, so hopefully we get a drop of rain so we can head to Sandown.

“It would be brilliant to take him back to Sandown and I think he is a horse who deserves to run in a Grade One as well.

“He’s a horse who did well as a novice hurdler, but he went to Cheltenham and something wasn’t quite right that day. He’s come back this season and done everything correctly so far over fences and has picked up a couple of Grade Twos, but it would be nice if he could grab a Grade One.”

Jockey Ben Jones celebrates aboard The Jukebox Man
Jockey Ben Jones celebrates aboard The Jukebox Man (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club/PA)

As well as Handstands, Jones is in the enviable position of riding a stellar squad being prepared at Pauling’s Naunton Downs base – including the likes of Fiercely Proud and Leader In The Park.

However, the best could be The Jukebox Man, who provided Jones with his first Grade One victory when backing up his taking Newbury chasing bow by landing the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Owned by FA Cup-winning manager Harry Redknapp, The Jukebox Man is poised to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival, giving the 25-year-old plenty to dream about ahead of the spring.

Ben Jones (right) with Harry Redknapp (left) and trainer Ben Pauling
Ben Jones (right) with Harry Redknapp (left) and trainer Ben Pauling (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club/PA)

Jones added: “I’ve never been in a position to have this kind of ammunition behind me before and I’m really grateful to Ben and the team for believing in me and putting me on them – luckily so far it is working well.

“I take each day as it comes and you never know in this sport, but The Jukebox Man is very exciting, he’s the best horse I’ve handled.

“I’m really looking forward to the future with him and fingers crossed, it could be exciting at Cheltenham.”

Ground key to The Jukebox Man’s Festival date

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Ben Pauling will decide on The Jukebox Man’s Cheltenham target when he has a better idea what the ground is going to be like in March.

An impressive winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day, he provided owner Harry Redknapp and jockey Ben Jones with a first Grade One winner.

The victory was over three miles, but he made a winning chasing debut over two and a half and Pauling would not be afraid to drop him to two miles for the Arkle if the ground is soft at the Festival, with no option over the intermediate trip now available.

“He’s all good, we’re very happy with how he is and everything will lean towards Cheltenham now and the forecast will determine what sort of race we run him in,” said Pauling.

“He was a bit sore on his heels the day after but that was only superficial, his legs are all fine and everything, but he’s just enjoying a few easy days.

“I think his jumping was exceptional, you don’t see many horses jump that fluently, let alone a novice, it was really something to watch and I think that will stand him in very good stead for later in the spring. Jumping that effectively is going to be a big bonus.

“Also, he jumped gun-barrel straight, which even I was surprised at, I honestly thought he’d move left at some point but he was as straight as a die.

“It was a foot-perfect performance really and he looked very good travelling in behind and had plenty of tactical speed when Ben needed it.”

The Jukebox Man hits all the right notes for Harry Redknapp

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Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man showed a completely different side to his game in running out a ready winner of the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

The former football manager went through agony when seeing his pride and joy agonisingly caught at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but based on this display there are plenty of big days ahead of him.

On his chasing debut at Newbury he went straight to the front and put in some exuberant leaps along the way to winning a Grade Two.

Stepped up to Grade One company and facing an extra half a mile, Ben Jones was happy to take a lead on this occasion.

Trained by Ben Pauling, the heavily-backed 4-6 favourite settled beautifully, and whether he met a fence on a long stride or a short one, his jumping was immaculate.

To Hyland’s credit he tried to make a race of it, but The Jukebox Man had so much scope over his fences that at every obstacle he was gaining ground.

The pace really quickened approaching the second-last, and with The Jukebox Man low and quick over it the race was soon over.

He jumped the final fence cleanly to ran out a two-and-a-half-length winner, giving his rider a first victory at the highest level.

The Jukebox Man jumped brilliantly
The Jukebox Man jumped brilliantly (John Walton/PA)

“Ben (Pauling) still feels there is improvement in him,” said Redknapp.

“He normally goes off and is ‘catch me if you can’ but Ben told Ben to sit in behind and he tracked Hyland and picked him off. He said the first time round it was just having a canter round, he was going so easy he always thought he was going to win. It’s nice.

“It’s fantastic, you come into the game to have horses to have days like this. I love it and it’s my passion and I’ve been very lucky. Ben has been a great judge and great trainer of my horses.

“He’s a lovely horse and has had sore heels all week, Ben was really worried about running him. He’s probably the best I’ve had, he’s probably better than Shakemup’Arry who won for me at Cheltenham and has great potential.

“The dream is back to Cheltenham and I was nervous. I watched every jump and holding my breath, it’s worse than football managing.”

Pauling said: “It’s a few years since I’ve won a Grade One, Willoughby Court was my last one

“It’s a huge relief and it’s been an interesting week at home working on his heels to make sure he was here in good health because he had a few sores on his heels and it hasn’t been that smooth. To get him here and get him to win, I know he can be better and it’s very exciting.

“It’s amazing for Harry and the whole team has been phenomenal. It’s been early mornings, late nights, but we’re there. Above water I’ve been a swan, but below I’ve been paddling.

“I doubt he will run again before Cheltenham and he’ll have entries in both the Arkle and Brown Advisory. If it came up heavy and he is feeling A1, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in an Arkle. I think in heavy ground when he’s A1 he could jump anything into submission.”

The Jukebox Man looks booked for the top
The Jukebox Man looks booked for the top (John Walton/PA)

A jubilant Jones said: “Absolutely buzzing and it is what dreams are made of.

“All week I’ve been like my little girl before Christmas, absolutely revved – but not for Christmas, for Boxing Day. I’m absolutely delighted and it couldn’t have gone better.

“I don’t know how good he is going to be, but he’s the best I’ve ever ridden and if he keeps on winning he keeps the dream still alive. I’ll say we will see him in March now.

“He’s very versatile, has lots of gears, a high cruising speed and also stays three miles. I would say it is one of those where we he will probably be in both (Arkle and Brown Advisory) and it will be ground dependent. It wouldn’t bother me him not running before March. “

Jukebox aiming to be Kauto Star hit

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Ben Pauling is backing The Jukebox Man to step up to the mark in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The six-year-old has long looked to have all the makings of a very smart horse, with a point-to-point win and two good bumper runs leading into a successful novice hurdling spell last season.

He was a good third in the Challow and then second in both the Albert Bartlett and the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle – the former by just a head as he was only marginally outdone by Stellar Story.

Owned by former Premier League football manager Harry Redknapp, the bay then made his chasing debut in the Grade Two John Francome Chase at Newbury in late November and created an instant impression with a two-length victory following a solid round of jumping.

He now steps up to Grade One level over fences, this time to contest the Kauto Star under Ben Jones against four rivals.

“I think we’ve got a superstar, he’s in great order. He couldn’t be going there in any better form,” said Pauling.

“Whether he’s better going left-handed or right-handed, we’ll see.

“I don’t know how the race might work out, it’s a big race but there aren’t many in it.

“There might be one that wants to go a good gallop up the front and if there is, we’ll just sit in against that.

“He seems in great form, it’s a long time since I’ve had one quite this exciting.

“His jumping is his ace card, he’s good at home but he’s excellent on course.”

Opposing him is Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s White Rhino, an eight-year-old with two chasing victories on his CV after starting out over obstacles this season.

He won by two lengths on debut and then took a Haydock event by over four lengths next time out, with this Kempton outing a return to a three-mile trip he has been successful over before when hurdling.

Elsewhere in the race is Nicky Henderson’s Hyland, a grey son of Turgeon who has won three of his four starts over fences and was impressive when winning twice over three miles and half a furlong at Cheltenham earlier this term.

Alan King’s Masaccio, second to The Jukebox Man at Newbury, also lines up, as does Paul Nicholls’ Welcom To Cartries.

The Jukebox Man aiming to Star at Kempton

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The Jukebox Man will contest the three-mile Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, although Ben Pauling does not believe a staying campaign is a foregone conclusion for the rest of the season.

Second in the Albert Bartlett last season, he reappeared over two and a half miles when making his chasing debut at Newbury.

He put up a sparkling display there and Pauling would not be afraid of running him over two miles at some stage, but feels the Kempton Grade One is the right race for him now.

“All is good, we’ve decided we’ll go to Kempton on Boxing Day with him,” Pauling told Sky Sports Racing.

“It was a real headscratcher whether I even dropped him back to two miles he showed so much speed that day, on ground that was as quick as he’d run on for us.

“He’s a very versatile horse and a very exciting horse to have, he’s in great order and he’ll be ready for the Kauto Star.

“Jumping was his ace card, very much so. I said all year I didn’t think we needed to go three miles with him as he’s got enough speed to come back and he’s proved that, but at the same time there’s not an awful lot of options over two and a half miles that suit where I really want to run him.

“We can say what a shame the two-and-a-half-mile race has gone (at the Cheltenham Festival) as that would have been ideal. But we are now back to what it used to be, so we’re thinking do we go two or three and just because we’re going three at Christmas doesn’t mean we’ll go three in March, so we’ve a lot of options but he’s in good order.”

Pauling deliberating Christmas targets for The Jukebox Man

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Ben Pauling is considering options at Ascot and Kempton over the Christmas period for The Jukebox Man following his impressive chasing debut at Newbury last week.

Placed three times at Grade One level over hurdles, including a head defeat to Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Harry Redknapp-owned six-year-old was thrown in at the deep end on his fencing bow for what looked a strong renewal of the Grade Two John Francome Novices’ Chase.

The Jukebox Man proved more than up to the task, however, jumping boldly on the front end under Ben Jones on his way to a clear-cut success.

Pauling said: “He came out of it really well, there’s not a mark on him, and I was just delighted with his performance. I was certain he would need the run, yes we’d been away and done bits and bobs, but we hadn’t gone too hard on him – we never do.

“I thought it was a good field and I thought to win that first time out would be very pleasing, and of course he went and did it nicely. It was a delight to watch and we were thrilled really.”

While The Jukebox Man’s best efforts over hurdles came over three miles, Friday’s performance proved he can be effective over two and a half, leaving Pauling to ponder his next move.

Ben Jones celebrates victory aboard The Jukebox Man
Ben Jones celebrates victory aboard The Jukebox Man (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“I’ve obviously given it some thought, there’s not an awful lot (of options),” the trainer added.

“He has this quirk where he can lug left at times, but when you straighten him up, he’s gun barrel straight and he jumps straight, so he’s not a horse who I think has to go left-handed and there’s not much for him left now for a little while.

“The Kauto Star over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day is very much an option, or he could go for the Noel at Ascot (December 20) over two-mile-two. He shows speed on the track that he doesn’t at home, so I’m trying not to get myself too blinkered on the fact that he’s an out-and-out three-miler.

“I dropped him back in trip the other day to see where we were, on ground that was probably as quick as he’s ever run and he looked better than ever, so we might keep our options open of staying down in trip and go from there.”

The Jukebox Man proves a big hit on fencing bow

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Cheltenham Festival runner-up The Jukebox Man made a successful start to his career over fences for owner Harry Redknapp in the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury.

Having seen his colours carried to a first victory at the showpiece meeting by Shakem Up’arry the previous afternoon, the popular former football manager looked set to complete a famous Festival double in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Gold Cup day in March, only for The Jukebox Man to be caught in the shadow of the post by Stellar Story.

The six-year-old was thrown straight into Grade Two company on his chasing debut by trainer Ben Pauling and went off the 9-4 joint-favourite alongside Captain Teague, who was bidding to complete a treble on the card for Paul Nicholls.

The two market leaders were the front two in the race for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, with The Jukebox Man holding sway and jumping accurately under Ben Jones.

While Captain Teague faltered in the home straight, The Jukebox Man certainly did not, galloping on strongly – albeit lugging to his left – from the final fence to repel the late thrust of Masaccio by two lengths.

Johnnywho finished third, with Captain Teague ultimately a little disappointing in fourth.

Pauling said: “Barters Hill was an exceptional talent and I think he might be the same.

The Jukebox Man ridden by Ben Jones on their way to winning the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase
The Jukebox Man ridden by Ben Jones on their way to winning the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“There’s loads to work on, he was a bit close to the first few and was almost in hurdling mode. Ben then did well to rein him in and just pop him down the back.

“He’s a big horse, that’s his run of the season and he’s going to improve a ton. All mine do, so it could be quite exciting, hopefully.

“I had in my head he wasn’t just a dour stayer, he’s slow at home but on the track he finds another gear and I thought he had a touch of class, so dropping him back to two and a half was always my plan.

“I was unsure on this ground we’d have the gears, but we did and it opens up a lot of options. We’ll see what we do between now and March.”

Harry Redknapp watching The Jukebox Man in action at the Cheltenham Festival
Harry Redknapp watching The Jukebox Man in action at the Cheltenham Festival (Joe Giddens/PA)

A jubilant Jones told ITV Racing: “That was unbelievable, to land a Grade Two like that for Ben who has obviously given me the job (as stable jockey) this year – it means a lot to me.

“He’s been so good (schooling) at home, a little bit too brave, but he took a chance at the water jump and one down the back and I’d say that’s done him the world of good because he measured his fences really well after that.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ever sat on, without a shadow of a doubt. I felt like I cantered round and just quickened up the home straight.”

All eyes on The Jukebox Man for Newbury fencing debut

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Harry Redknapp knows plenty about sporting excellence and his exciting chasing prospect The Jukebox Man makes his eagerly-awaited fences bow in the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury on Friday.

The former football manager won the FA Cup with Portsmouth and also guided Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League during his decorated career in the dugout, but it is Ben Pauling who oversees The Jukebox Man’s preparations on the equine training grounds.

The Gloucestershire handler has been excited by what he has seen from the seven-year-old when schooling over the larger obstacles and having gone close to Grade One glory at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in the spring, is confident his charge can make his mark in this new discipline.

Pauling said: “It’s great to be getting started and it’s been a slow old autumn because of the weather with him. But he came through his racecourse gallop at Newbury very well and in his schooling he’s been electric – we’re looking forward to seeing him just as much as everyone else.

“Being honest, the chase course is good to soft, soft in places and although I think he’ll be perfectly fine on that we are dropping back in trip. Even though I don’t think that will be a negative, it will be the quickest ground he will have run on over two and a half miles.

“I fully expect him to jump and travel nicely. It’s a very deep race for the six runners that are there, but he goes there in good order.”

The cameras were trained on Redknapp as he was seen wincing in despair following The Jukebox Man’s agonising reversal in the Albert Bartlett in March.

However, the 77-year-old – who is a big supporter of Pauling – will be a notable absentee from the paddock on this occasion.

Harry Redknapp cheering on The Jukebox Man at Cheltenham
Harry Redknapp cheering on The Jukebox Man at Cheltenham (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Annoyingly Harry can’t be there, he’s got a lunch in Cardiff he is doing a talk at,” continued Pauling.

“He’s disappointed to say the least but the horse needs to run in this race anyway.”

Standing in The Jukebox Man’s way is Paul Nicholls’ Captain Teague, who claimed the scalp of Pauling’s star performer when they clashed in the Challow Hurdle at this track last season.

He was awarded a walkover on his intended chasing bow at Exeter earlier this month and Nicholls is keen to unleash him over the larger obstacles.

Captain Teague (right) and The Jukebox Man (centre) locking horns in the Challow Hurdle
Captain Teague (right) and The Jukebox Man (centre) locking horns in the Challow Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

He told Betfair: “He won the Persian War and the Challow last season before disappointing at Cheltenham in the spring when he was never quite right along with several others in the yard.

“He is in top order now, enjoyed a gallop round Newbury last week and I’ve always thought he would make a chaser. His schooling over fences has been very good and I’d like to think he has a big chance.”

Nicholls will also be represented in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle by Pertemps hero Monmiral, another with a footballing connection and counts Sir Alex Ferguson among his owners.

However, most eyes will be on Olly Murphy’s Liverpool Hurdle hero Strong Leader as he gets his season up and running.

Strong Leader en route to winning at Aintree
Strong Leader en route to winning at Aintree (Nigel French for The Jockey Club/PA)

The seven-year-old has thrived since upped in trip, going close in the Cleeve Hurdle before connections’ decision to skip the Cheltenham Festival paid dividends at Aintree when he galloped to Grade One glory.

Murphy said: “He’s in good form, he’s been trained for the race and we’re looking forward to running him. Obviously it’s cut up big time so hopefully he’s the one they’ve all got to beat.

“It’s the start of what is hopefully a busy season for him, I’m expecting him to be fit enough to go and win but I’ve left a bit to work with as well.

“I don’t know why it’s cut up as bad as it did but it’s still a tight little race. I wouldn’t swap my lad, he’s got a penalty and we have bigger targets ahead but it’d be lovely to win it.”

Dual Coral Cup champion Langer Dan and Deborah Cole’s Flight Deck also head to post in a select field of four.

Langer Dan after winning at Cheltenham
Langer Dan after winning at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

The former finished the season with real zest when following up his Cheltenham Festival success with near misses behind Impaire Et Passe at both Aintree and Sandown, but trainer Dan Skelton has sounded his yearly warning about Langer Dan’s early-season form.

Skelton told Ladbrokes: “It’s disappointing that only four horses have turned up for this one, but that’s a sign of the kind of horses that you need to compete at this level.

“There’s a couple of 160 horses in here. Langer Dan is always better in the spring, in my opinion, but I’ve done as much work as I can with him and we’ll see how we get on.”

Pauling pencils in Newbury date for The Jukebox Man

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Ben Pauling is tempted to let The Jukebox Man make his chasing debut in Grade Two company at Newbury’s upcoming Coral Gold Cup meeting.

Caught in the dying strides of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, having cut out most of the running, he rates an exciting prospect over fences.

Pauling is looking at the John Francome Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles for his Harry Redknapp-owned charge.

“He is a huge talent; he ran very well at Cheltenham and Aintree last year, just getting pipped both times. He is a lovely horse for the future, he jumps very well,” said Pauling.

“He’s not necessarily a brilliant workhorse, on the all-weather he just does what he needs to do. You put him on the grass and he just motors.”

Pauling could also be represented in the feature Coral Gold Cup by Henry’s Friend.

“We’ve had a bit of an interrupted process leading up to the Coral Gold Cup which is our main aim. I wasn’t sure if I would run him or not, I felt that running him at Newbury was going to hopefully bring him to life and it really did,” said Pauling of his first outing of the season over hurdles.

“He came back a completely different horse to the one that went into the race. He had a lovely gallop round and qualified for the Pertemps as there were only four runners.

“We tried to see where we were stamina-wise in the amateur chase (National Hunt Chase, at Cheltenham) but he just didn’t turn up that day, the Reynoldstown left its mark. I’ve got no concerns over the trip, we know he likes the track so fingers crossed. He just wouldn’t want the ground to go heavy.”

National and Topham options for Shakem Up’Arry

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Harry Redknapp’s Cheltenham Festival hero Shakem Up’Arry has a date with Aintree’s Grand National fences on the agenda – but time will tell whether he lines up for the big race itself or the Randox Topham Handicap Chase 24 hours earlier.

The Ben Pauling-trained 10-year-old – who is named after a West Ham supporter who used to instruct the former Irons manager to ‘Shakem Up’Arry’ on matchdays – gave the well-known football boss his first victory at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting with a brilliant display in the TrustATrader Plate.

It was a performance which backed up his win at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day and while in the form of his life, connections are relishing the prospect of tackling Aintree’s famous spruce next month.

“He’s got an entry in the National and the Topham and he will run in one of them,” said Pauling.

“A lot will depend on the next confirmation stage of the National when we will see where we are, but we don’t have to make a decision until nearer the time and to be honest he’s only going to be ticking over and pop over one or two fences in preparation.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham really well and we’re looking forward to Aintree with him.”

Shakem Up’Arry has never won over further than an extended two and a half miles in his career to date, but Pauling believes his Festival champion would not let the side down if Redknapp decides to take a shot at the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Jockey Ben Jones celebrates with winning owner Harry Redknapp after winning at Cheltenham
Jockey Ben Jones celebrates with Harry Redknapp after winning at Cheltenham (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“First off we need to get into the National and if we did, which race he runs in will come down to the personal preference of Harry and if he wants a runner in the National or whether he wants to go to the Topham,” explained Pauling.

“You never know if a horse is going to stay the trip of a National, but he travels and jumps so well you could see him probably running a big race. It’s just a case of what happens when you cross the Melling Road and go to another level.

“It will be a case of weighing up the pros and cons, but you would think he would be a good sight over the fences, he certainly wouldn’t be backing off them, that’s for sure.”

Pauling was finding the scoresheet at the Festival for the fourth time with Shakem Up’Arry, but was thrilled to see one of his long-time supporters break his duck with a horse who has always been a popular member of the the handler’s Naunton Downs string.

Shakem Up’arry in action at Cheltenham
Shakem Up’arry in action at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA)

He said: “You want success for all your owners, but for someone like Harry who has been a competitive man throughout his life in the football industry, it was amazing to give him a day like that on the biggest stage in racing which he adores so much and is a big supporter of.

“We are just delighted for the horse, he is always one we have adored and to get some big victories into him like the last two means the world really.

“He improved to win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and we knew he would need to improve again and he did. It appears the wind op we did in the summer has worked nicely and it was a foot-perfect round of jumping. He was big and bold when he needed to be over the last few before staying on strongly up the hill.”

Although there was joy for Shakem Up’Arry, there was agony a day later when what looked like a Festival double for Paling and Redknapp courtesy of The Jukebox Man was thwarted at the very last moment by the rallying Stellar Story.

The Jukebox Man jumped the final flight of the Albert Bartlett with a narrow advantage
The Jukebox Man jumped the final flight of the Albert Bartlett with a narrow advantage (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Challow Hurdle third proved he is very much a high-class performer in the making when making the running in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, the six-year-old and his pilot Kielan Woods leaving many well-touted rivals trailing in their wake before being reeled in late in the day.

However, Pauling is taking plenty of positives from the narrow reversal and is excited for next year’s novice chasing campaign after one more possible outing this term.

“He’s always been a horse we have liked and I think the Albert Bartlett has told us an awful lot really – it’s put him on the map as a proper Grade One contender going forward,” he added.

“I think he will be better for a fence, he lost nothing in defeat and he’s an exciting one for next year.

Harry Redknapp reacts to The Jukebox Man getting chinned at Cheltenham
Harry Redknapp reacts to The Jukebox Man getting chinned at Cheltenham (Joe Giddens/PA)

“We purposely gave him plenty of time between the Challow and Albert Bartlett because I thought the Challow would take a bit out of him and it did. But he seems to have come out of this one very well.

“Whether he goes to Aintree for the Sefton or over to Punchestown, I’m not sure. But we will take each day as it comes and he has sort of done his job this year I think.

“However, if he was in sparkling form the week before Aintree we might just give him an entry and see where we are.”

Pauling taking patient approach with The Jukebox Man

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The Jukebox Man will not be seen again until the spring following his fine third in Newbury’s Challow Hurdle.

Owned by football great Harry Redknapp, he was bought for £70,000 after impressing in the pointing field and since being beaten by the well-regarded Gidleigh Park on his rules debut, he has barely put a foot wrong for trainer Ben Pauling.

Two novice hurdle victories saw him stepped up in class for the final Grade One of 2023 and although failing to come away with victory, the six-year-old was less than two lengths adrift of eventual winner Captain Teague after being involved in a prolonged battle with both the Paul Nicholls-trained scorer and runner-up Lookaway up the Newbury straight.

That gives Pauling confidence that he has a special performer under his care and after being given plenty of time to recover from his Challow exertions, The Jukebox Man will be prepared for big-race targets in the spring.

He said: “We are really lucky at the moment to have some smart young horses, but he is definitely up there with the best of them.

“He’s particularly suited by that sort of ground and I’m not saying he does not have the speed or class for better ground, but I think he handles the soft very well.

“I thought he ran a lovely race and jumped particularly well and travelled strongly. Although four of them finished within two lengths of each other, rather than say the race wasn’t that strong, I think you probably have four nice horses.

“Lookaway brought very strong handicap form to the race and the others are very unexposed horses who have done nothing wrong in their preparation and are hopefully going to be smart horses for years to come.”

Pauling continued: “He won’t run again now until the spring. I just feel the Challow is always a gruelling enough test and I don’t think we can say this year is any different.

“Amazingly, he has come out of it very well indeed and is as fresh as a daisy. However, I think we will be saving him for something in the spring, whether that is Cheltenham, Aintree or even Perth.

“We will look to run once or twice max before the end of the season and although I think he will stay three miles very well, ground will probably determine which route we went really.

“I think he will definitely stay three, but if it came up soft I wouldn’t be afraid to leave him at two and a half and I think he is an absolute belter. He has a brilliant attitude, loves his job and I think he is going to be a very smart horse for the future.”

Shakem Up’Arry en route to winning on New Year's Day
Shakem Up’Arry en route to winning on New Year’s Day (Nigel French/PA)

It was an exciting few days for both Pauling and Redknapp and although they fell short in the Challow, they received the perfect compensation package at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when Shakem Up’Arry landed the valuable Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase by an emphatic seven and a half lengths.

It was a long-awaited victory for the 10-year-old, who had been sent off favourite for the corresponding race in 2023 and had also placed over the course and distance at the Cheltenham Festival.

“He has always been knocking on the door of a big one without quite finding what is needed to get his head in front,” continued Pauling.

“Whether that be at the Festival or whenever he ran, he always seems to turn up, but has just fallen slightly short.

Harry Redknapp was unable to be at Cheltenham to watch Shakem Up'Arry
Harry Redknapp was unable to be at Cheltenham to watch Shakem Up’Arry (Joe Giddens/PA)

“We just gave him a tinker with his wind in the summer and whether it is that or not, I’m not sure, but it looks to be paying dividends and it is great for both Harry and the horse to get on the board in a big one and reap the rewards for almost Harry’s patience really.

“Harry couldn’t have been much happier, he was gutted not to be there, but he has always adored this horse – I think because he is named after him. He has owned him with me since he was a three-year-old and amazingly he turned 10 the other day which is frightening.

“He has always been fond of this horse and it was lovely to see him go and do it.”