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.
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"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.

Onewaywest was given a bold front running ride from our Conditional Elliot England at Wetherby. These tactics paid off and the duo cruised to the line for their second win within the week. Congratulations to all connections - we hear you enjoyed your celebrations!

Point winner Four Springs made it winning rules debut at Hereford over hurdles. Given a good ride by Harry Cobden for owner Mr T P Radford, we look forward to seeing what's in store for this son of Berkshire.

The first purchase for new syndicate Cotswold Racing was a 3YO Wings of Eagles gelding sourced from the Goffs Arkle Sale. This gelding came on strong recommendation from vendors, the late Michael and wife Ann Cullen. His syndicate have enjoyed their ownership experience immensely, from watching him be broken in, the name process and now a winning racecourse debut in his bumper at Hereford!

Huge congratulations to all involved. A very special win.

The Jukebox Man - a winning comeback

After an early end to last season, The Jukebox Man made his return — and to see him back on the track, jumping and enjoying himself was result enough for the team, his win under Ben Jones, a cherry on top!

Harry Redknapp summed it up perfectly afterwards, saying how relieved and delighted he was just to have him back doing what he loves. Ben Pauling echoed that sentiment, proud simply to see him finish his race so well and remind us all of the talent he has.

Huge thanks to the people who have quietly kept this horse moving forward: Gill, Tom, groom Louise and work rider Ollie, who knows him inside out (plus a few more!)
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Bring on the rest of the season!

ONEWAYWEST gets it done at Warwick!
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A few little niggles along the way, but today he showed exactly what he’s made of — and it was well worth the wait!

A brilliant ride from our Conditional Jockey Elliot England, and huge congratulations to The Parallel Lines who’ve been wonderfully patient with this lad.

He’s finally found the one way we like best… the winning one!

Well done to his work rider George - a deserved win.

Congratulations to new ownership group Momentum Bloodstock with their first runner, first winner!

Kicour La proved tough in the Maiden Hurdle at Leicester to come home in front under Ben Jones. Lots to look forward to with this handsome chap.

Meetmebythesea and old friend Callum Pritchard are brilliant on chase debut at Wetherby.

Congratulations to owner JP McManus and all connections on the win!

Pauling said: "In my wildest dreams, I didn’t expect to see her win like that. That’s a big result and we’ll get her home so we can look to the future."

Racing Post, Liam Headd:
Ben Pauling has always held Diva Luna in the highest regard, but he was still taken aback by the manner of her first victory over fences.


A Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree last year, the six-year-old mare produced a powerful performance when scoring by 19 lengths in the four-runner Listed mares’ novice chase.


Pauling said: "In my wildest dreams, I didn’t expect to see her win like that. That’s a big result and we’ll get her home so we can look to the future."


Diva Luna, who was cut to 16-1 (from 33) with Paddy Power for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham in March, is likely to head to Warwick for a Listed contest on December 11 next.


Pauling said: "I was very nervous today because I wanted to see what I believed she was, but we’ve hopefully seen that. 
"When she finished third in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham she was weak and never right. You doubt yourself because I always thought she was the best filly I’ve trained, and even maybe one of the best horses I’ve trained."
It was the second part of a double for Pauling and jockey Ben Jones, who also struck in the 2m4½f handicap chase with Fine Casting.

Fine Casting made a dominant return to the larger obstacles. Given a great ride by Ben Jones, Shane as he's known at home looked to relish the softer conditions and stormed home, ears pricked for a great win at Bangor. The first of a back to back double!

Congratulations to Mrs Sue Davis, lovely to see you in the winners' enclosure again!

Our Boy Stan's performance was enough to raise a smile on our very soggy team's faces at Ffos Las! The well-bred son of Kapgarde made a brilliant start to his hurdling career with a smart win. 

Congratulations to Forty Winks Racing who have played the long game, purchasing Stan as a foal and are now reaping the rewards!

Whatever a duo can do, Twig & Beau can do better! This pair! Kicking off their season with a fantastic win in the Veteran's Chase at Sandown. 

​Huge congratulations to the Morgan family. 

Mambonumberfive made light work of the Aintree fences for an auspicious chase debut under Ben Jones.

Congratulations to groom George, work rider Ollie and all connections. Let's see what the future holds shall we!

A simple front running ride from Kielan Woods proved just the ticket to get Pic Roc's season underway. A lovely round of jumping at Huntingdon saw Pic Roc and Woods return victorious in the Beginners' Chase.

Congratulations to the Kendall family on the win!

The Jukebox Kid keeps connections hopes high with a brilliant chasing debut at Carlisle under Ben Jones. 

It's always exciting when you have one that doesn't bow out in a fight - bring on the rest of the season! 

Sound And Fury just keeps going! A fantastic jumper in his own right, this son of Milan is proving a staying machine! Given a great ride from Ben, Tyson as he's known at home dug deep to plug on to the line to give owners Foxtrot Racing a winning celebration!

Congratulations to Giles and Beau who share the ride at home and all of Tyson's connections.

No Questions Asked kicks of November and his season with an emphatic Chase debut at Ascot! 

A successful hurdler, we're excited to see what this season brings for NQA and his connections. 

Congratulations to groom Matty, work rider Elliot and owners Newton LPD Ltd.

Henry is no stranger to the Ascot winners enclosure having won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown a few seasons ago. This time it is the Sodexo Gold Cup he is lifting! 

A horse with so much heart, Henry is the ultimate warrior and relished the battle. We are all delighted for the Troup family - looking forward to more 'official Henry merchandise' being ordered!!

Congratulations to all connections, including devoted work rider Ryan.

Duel Au Soleil makes his trip to Wetherby a winning one! Given a lovely ride by Callum Pritchard, Duel Au Soleil was cheered home by devoted groom Louise (we reckon we could hear her from Naunton Downs!) on handicap debut.

Congratulations to Ballaskiggs Racing!