Cheltenham 2025 news: Harry Redknapp has high hopes for Shakem Up’arry
Cheltenham Festival-winning owner Harry Redknapp has told BetVictor that he has high hopes for last year’s Plate winner Shakem Up’arry, who could return to defend his crown this year.
Speaking exclusively to BetVictor, Redknapp said: “Last year, if you’d have told me I’d come away from the Festival with a winner and a second, I’d have been delighted.
“I’d always dreamed of having a Cheltenham winner so when Shakem Up'arry won it was an amazing day for me.
A great couple of days
“Then to go back the next day with no real expectations and nearly have another with The Jukebox Man was special! It was a great couple of days.
“Shakem Up’arry is a lovely horse and he’s been a great servant. Ben Jones has been riding him well and Ben Pauling has always done brilliantly with him.
“He had a fall earlier this season and was slightly disappointing at Warwick I thought, although Ben was quite happy with him.
“He went to Lambourn last weekend and apparently he worked as well as he ever has.
“He seems to be one of those horses that really comes alive at this time of year, so hopefully he’ll head to Cheltenham in great form.”
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Redknapp reveals his Cheltenham acca
Redknapp revealed which horses he’ll be backing this year, siding with popular short-priced selections for his accumulator.
“This year I think I’ll be having the accumulator that everybody will be on,” said Redknapp.
“I’ll be on Constitution Hill, Kopek Des Bordes, Jonbon and Galopin Des Champs. If I had to be greedy and go for a five-fold, then I think I’d throw in Majborough to win the Arkle as well!
“Whether I win or lose, I love Cheltenham. It’s the highlight of the racing calendar for me. The atmosphere and the people there make for an amazing couple of days.”
Yellow Car purchase
Explaining how he came to buy 50% of Yellow Car, Redknapp recounted the story of fate which led to him purchasing the horse having initially turned it down.
“Graeme McPherson actually phoned me up saying he had a nice horse called Yellow Car and would I be interested,” said Redknapp.
“He won a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January but I read the message and thought, ‘no, I’m not going to buy another horse.’
“Then there was a knock at the door and it was the young lady who does our cleaning.
“She was complaining about a car she’d been given as a replacement for the day while her car was in for a service, I looked over at it and it was bright yellow!
“I thought, ‘this is an omen.’ So I went back and bought 50% of the horse and now he’s going for the Albert Bartlett!”
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