Harry Redknapp's hopes of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup were dashed on Friday as his horse The Jukebox Man faded to finish eighth, but the former Tottenham manager quickly turned attention to a potential return to football management. The 79-year-old, who led Spurs between 2008 and 2012, suggested he would be open to taking over if the club came calling amid their relegation battle.
“It’s a big challenge. Do I need the pressure at this stage of my life? Why not? I’d give it a go. I’m not too old. I feel as fit as a fiddle. If they ask me, I think I’d do a good job,” Redknapp said. He insisted the pressure of the Gold Cup outweighed any he felt at Spurs, adding with a smile: “Managing Spurs wasn’t that stressful when I was there. We had a good team, so it wasn’t too bad.”
Redknapp's horse, The Jukebox Man, started as the 7-2 third favourite but weakened up the Cheltenham hill after jumping well for much of the race. Trainer Ben Pauling revealed the horse had “made a noise”, and Redknapp suggested a breathing operation might be needed. “He travelled great until two out, and then he seemed to just fall in a bit of a hole,” Redknapp explained.
The former manager has racing in his blood, recalling how his grandmother Maggie Brown would take illegal bets in the 1950s. Despite the defeat, Redknapp’s presence brought significant publicity to jump racing, with coverage on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and the front page of the Racing Post.
