'He was giving it the big one' - Harry Redknapp enjoys his biggest racing moment courtesy of Shakem Up'Arry

Harry Redknapp was forced to watch from home but still revelled in the glory after Shakem Up'Arry, a horse who has long promised a big moment, finally delivered to give the former manager his best day in racing.

Winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008 was Redknapp's most iconic footballing moment, but a bout of flu for his wife Sandra meant he missed the chance to be at Cheltenham to lift the prize for the Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase – the highlight on Britain’s first Premier raceday. 

Yet Redknapp monitored the action closely and, as in his management days, was reaching for his phone with urgency on the day the January transfer window opened – this was far from being business-related, though, as the charismatic owner simply found it impossible to hide his delight when he called trainer Ben Pauling straight after the race.

Pauling said: “He couldn’t be here as Sandra’s got a bit of flu and he didn't want to leave her, but it's a special day for him. He was giving it the big one, very excited and he's chuffed. 

“He's a competitive man; you're not in the industry he's been in all his life to finish second. I'm thrilled for him. As an owner this would be his biggest result and it's important to have these days.”

Shakem Up’Arry had been placed at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals as well as at Grade 1 level but had never won a race bigger than a Class 3 handicap, and the betting suggested he could endure a similar fate with Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Stage Star dominating the line-up. Yet as it became clear the topweight was not performing to the same level, the strong-travelling Shakem Up’Arry moved prominently and dangerously behind the Venetia Williams-trained leader Frero Banbou.

So often had the ten-year-old found himself in this stalking position, but this time he produced a finishing effort, pulling clear by seven and a half lengths under Ben Jones, who celebrated his first Cheltenham winner with a punch in the air.

Pauling, who suggested the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival would be Shakem Up’Arry’s next target, said: “He's been such an unlucky horse, he's never really landed a big one although we've always had faith in him. You start to wonder if it's ever going to happen, but it's great for Harry. It's lovely to land a big one for him."

Stage Star was sent off the 11-10 favourite but failed to move with the same power he showed in the November meeting’s feature prize. Harry Cobden was urging him along from the top of the hill and pulled him up before two out.

His trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: “Harry said after he made his mistakes he was never really going, he pulled up a tad sore and stiff. He must have pulled himself about a bit, which he’s done in the past. The thing is I’ve got time to get him right now. I know what I’ve got to do, he was marginally off and it was a slight disappointment but I wouldn’t worry about him.”

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