3 minute read

Ben Pauling’s exciting novice chaser The Jukebox Man made it a perfect two from two over fences when readily claiming the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Owned by ex-football manager Harry Redknapp, Grade 1 honours had so far eluded The Jukebox Man, who suffered an agonising defeat in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before once again filling the runner-up spot in Grade 1 company at Aintree a month later.

The Ben Pauling -trained six-year-old led virtually from start to finish when making a successful chasing debut in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury in November, but Ben Jones was keen to take a lead on his first start at three miles over fences.

In all truth, victory never looked in doubt for the well-backed 4/6 favourite, who jumped with aplomb throughout before readily mastering Hyland up the straight. Nicky Henderson's mount did his best to battle back under pressure, but The Jukebox Man had ample reserves in the tank and ultimately pulled away to score by an impressive two-and-a-half lengths to give his rider Ben Jones a first Grade 1 success.

Redknapp, who managed Portsmouth to victory in the FA Cup in 2008, said: "Ben (Pauling) still feels there is improvement in him as he had a little bit of a problem. Normally he goes off and it is catch me if you can, but Ben (Pauling) said sit in behind and that is what he did.

"He tracked Hyland and picked him off. Ben (Jones) said the first two miles he felt like he was having a canter around as he was going so easy, and he knew he was always going to win.

"This is fantastic. You come into the game, and you have horses to have special days like this. It is my big passion. I've been very lucky, and Ben has been incredible with Shakem Up'arry at the Cheltenham Festival last season and now here with The Jukebox Man."

Ben Pauling said: "He has had a few sore heels behind this week, and I've been working on his sore heels all week. To me going down to the start he was never quite moving with the exuberance you wanted to see. I was watching the race and thinking when he is going to let fly. Ben said he was a more quicker, accurate and better jumper today. He wasn't so exuberant, but he was very quick and accurate, and I think that was a lot because he was feeling those heels early race then he warmed into it and he got better as the race went on, but I do think there is a lot more to come.

The winner was cut to 5/1 (from 9s) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Festival, but should conditions turn up heavy, Pauling was quick to point out that he would be happy to drop back to two miles for the Arkle.

He said: "I doubt he will run again before Cheltenham, and he will have entries in both. If it comes up heavy and he is feeling A1 I wouldn't be surprised to see him in an Arkle. Heavy ground when he is A1, I think he can jump anything into submission."

On his first Grade 1 success in the saddle, Ben Jones added: "All week I have been looking forward to this lad and just wanted to get here in one piece and be able to ride him again. When the first lad won, I was hoping that wasn't all my fortune in one go.

"I had a great spin around Newbury, but he was 10 times better today. He was so quick and I thought I always had Nico covered. We didn't go all that quick and kind of dashed down to three out.

"He measured three out really well and landed really well. Then all I had to do was get out over the last. He has won over two and a half and were half thinking about dropping back in trip so we weren't worried about having not enough foot at the end so I took it steady as I knew we had some gears."