2 minutes Shakem Up'arry was among 21 contenders, with the race kicking off after an initial false start. Redknapp's horse led in the final stages, expertly clearing the last hurdle to secure victory in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
Harry Redknapp is celebrating victory on day three of Cheltenham, as his horse, Shakem Up'arry, clinched the win in the TrustATrader Plate. Shakem Up'arry surged ahead in the final stretch, winning by a margin close to a horse's length.
The triumph brought visible joy to Redknapp, with his ex-player Peter Crouch cheering him on X: "Yes Harry !!!!!"
Ben Jones, the winning jockey, was overwhelmed by the victory, stating,
"Honestly I haven't got any words. He's given me my first Festival winner and it means so much. What a thrill. I can't explain how much Ben [trainer Ben Pauling] and the team, and Mr Redknapp, have done for me. This is so special."
Redknapp, too, was ecstatic, expressing his passion for the Cheltenham Festival on ITV Racing:
"Oh my God, get in there! How good was that? He jumped for fun. What a performance," he exclaimed.
"My nan got me into racing, she was a bookie's runner back in the day. She'd get locked up in Poplar Police Station in the East End of London, because it was illegal in those days. I love the horses, I love the Festival, I love the people. It means so much."
Shakem Up'arry was among 21 contenders, with the race kicking off after an initial false start. Redknapp's horse led in the final stages, expertly clearing the last hurdle to secure victory in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase, followed closely by Crebilly and Straw Fan Jack.
Post-victory, Redknapp shared the inspiration behind his horse's name:
“I named him after a guy who was always behind me at West Ham, the guy would go, ‘shakem up’Arry. On a Saturday night, all I could hear was his voice in my head, ‘shakem up’Arry!’ So when I bought the horse I thought I’ve got to name one of them, Shakem up’Arry. He’s been great, he really has. We bought him off a man from Ireland and he’s been a real joy to own. There’s nothing like winning at the Festival, it’s a dream come true for me… it’s the Champions League of racing.”
He humorously concluded: “My wife don’t know, she thinks I own one horse but she don’t know about the other 25! I hope she’s not watching today.”
Harry is just one of two ex-football managers to clinch a win today, with Alex Furgeson's horse, Monmiral, winning in the Pertemps Hurdle Final.
