The Jukebox Man, carrying the colours of former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, came out on top in an epic renewal of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

At The Races article


A quality field of eight assembled for the Boxing Day highlight, with the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File joined at the head of the betting by Nicky Henderson’s recent Ascot winner Jango Baie.
After tracking the pacesetting Il Est Francais for much of the three-mile journey, Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man (7-1) moved to the lead before the final bend under Ben Jones, but the runners were tightly grouped as they straightened up for home.
There were still four in with a chance jumping the final fence, with The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie and last year’s winner Banbridge right there, but after a stirring battle and tense wait it was The Jukebox Man who was called a nose in front of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge.
A proud Redknapp – who saw The Jukebox Man win on this card 12 months ago – said: “That’s a dream and to have a horse that good is unbelievable. I love the game, to come here on King George day and just run made me so proud, but to have the winner is special.
“What a race he has run and he jumped unbelievable. When they came to him I thought he was beat and would finish fourth, but he’s come again and the guts the horse has shown is just amazing.”
Pauling, meanwhile, said of the incredible finish: “It really is the moment where you score the winning goal in the cup final with a minute to go. It’s as tight as it gets and I had no idea how we got on. The cameras thought he won, but I didn’t want to believe it until I heard that tannoy.
“It’s something very special and Harry has been an exceptional owner for me and we’ve always had a huge amount of luck. I’ve always had huge faith in this horse and so has Harry as well.
“We’ve won Festival races and we’ve won Grade Ones, but this is the best we’ve achieved to date, this is a pretty good Christmas present.
“I said to Ben going out ‘don’t hate me, but I want you to be as brave as you can be’. Ben got it perfect and went from fence to fence. The only one he got in tight to was the last, to get back up again was incredible as no one was stopping. He’s a character with a big engine and a big heart.
“It’s very exciting for the future. You would be daft not to go to the Gold Cup now and what a race that will be.”
While Pauling has tasted Grade One glory before, this victory represents the highlight of his career so far.
He added: “It’ll take me a few days I think for this to sink in especially after the hangover, but these are the days we want to be a part of.
“It’s our first proper runner in one of these elite chases and to compete would have been great but to win it is amazing.
“From Haydock (comeback after injury sidelined him after Kempton last year) to here has been foot-perfect. He’s not going to be seen again now until Cheltenham, so if I can do the same again, then fingers crossed it will be exciting.”
Jones was in no doubt about the magnitude of the win, rating it the highlight of his riding days to date.
He said: “I thought I’d won a head, but the girls came over and they weren’t sure. I didn’t want to celebrate in case I looked silly and I guess I can retire happy now.
“It’s right up there as the biggest day as my career and it’s got to be the most fun I’ve had out there on the racecourse. The big wins always seem to come in these colours which I don’t mind and it’s brilliant.
“Someone said to me ‘your name is going to be on the list alongside all the other jockeys that have won it’ and to go on there among some of the greats means an awful lot.”

Easy Presumption Racing celebrated a mighty fine win at Doncaster courtesy of Lanesborough at Doncaster. The son of Diamond Boy travelled strongly throughout before going clear approaching the last and flying home. 

Huge congratulations to Easy Presumption Racing - we know you'll have enjoyed that one!

'She needs to take on the boys' - Grade 1 aim revealed for Diva Luna after Lady Godiva success

Racing Post article 11th December 2025

Diva Luna may have looked good on paper last season but Ben Pauling believes best is still yet to come as he targets the Grade 1 Scilly Isles for his exciting novice chaser.


The six-year-old, who finished third in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, is unbeaten over fences this term after securing her second Listed win on the bounce when making all in a field of three in the feature Lady Godiva chase. 


While the mare posted some decent results last season, Pauling was not too impressed with his Grade 2 bumper winner and believes she has arrived this season in her best form, and he now plans to send her into Grade 1 company for the second time in her career at Sandown next month. 


The trainer said: "Last season was a write off from start to finish. I know it looked like she had some good results but we knew what she was capable of, it was nowhere near that, she wasn't herself. We struggled to get her right all of last season and what she did was on raw ability, not because she was in the best of form.


"Now she has a couple of Listed chase wins under her belt, I think she needs to step into some open company and take on the boys, so I'm looking towards the Scilly Isles [on January 31] as her next target.
​

"There wasn't a lot of horses in this race today but you couldn't be happier with what she did. She made one mistake, which is no bad thing, she has to learn. She's come back this season totally different and back to her best."

Old Clayesmorian becomes the fourth foal (from four) for dam Burgundy Betty to win his debut bumper! This incredible feat, we think makes Burgundy Betty the only mare in the last twenty years (as far as records go) to have achieved this remarkable achievement. 

The Henley family raced Burgundy Betty themselves before commencing her broodmare career. The first three foals, also trained by Ben for the Henleys, all fillies won their debut and now Old Clayesmorian, has followed in his sisters' footsteps. 

Huge congratulations to all connections. Very special to race one you've bred! 

Huge congratulations to Mr Steve Matthews and the Matthews family for Lady Henrietta's hurdle win at Leicester under Elliot England. Every win is special, but when you've bred and race the horse yourself perhaps a little added fairy dust! 

Enjoy the celebrations!

Kicour La and Ben Jones made it back to back wins at Leicester over the hurdles with their victory in the Novice Hurdle for Momentum Bloodstock. 

Huge congratulations to all connections - what a career start!

It was a long anticipated wait for owners of Starmount to kickstart his rules campaign, but boy did he kick it off in style! A dominating win under Kielan Woods at Wetherby looks to have set this gelding's career up for some loftier targets. 

Huge congratulations to all involved.