Harry Redknapp reckons jockeys are braver than footballers.
The ex-Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth manager has a chance of landing one of the racing top prizes as his horse The Jukebox Man is among the favourites for Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Harry, 79, who will appear in the next series of I’m A Celebrity, said all his 26 racehorses – and the jockeys who ride them – were ‘amazing’.
“They get injured, these jump jockeys, and then they’re back three weeks later,” he said.
“They’re not like footballers are they?
“They’re incredible.”
Redknapp said The Jukebox Man’s trainer Ben Pauling works ‘like a football manager’.
“He’s got to go and sign good horses,” he said.
“If you’re a football manager you’ve got to sign good players or you’ve got no chance.
“Ben’s a top trainer and he’s a good communicator. He’s one of those guys who always answers the phone when you ring up and has a chat.
“I’ve been very lucky with the horses I’ve had with him.
“He gave me a Cheltenham winner and he’s not bought me a bad horse. Everything he’s bought me so far has been good.”
One of Redknapp’s other star horses Taurus Bay runs later today (Wednesday) at the festival in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
jerry.lawton@dailystar.co.uk
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