HARRY REDKNAPP was celebrating a £4,000 winner as the racehorse he co-owns demolished rivals at Exeter.
The ex-Spurs boss was set to cheer on Shakem Up’Arry during his Soccer Saturday debut yesterday.
But the £125,000 contest the horse was due to run in was pushed back to next Sunday due to the frozen ground at Newbury.
Redknapp, 73, did not have to wait that long for a winner though, as Karl Philippe romped home this afternoon in a 2m2½f contest over hurdles.
The Fergal O’Brien-trained 6-4 favourite surged home by ten lengths, earning connections a tasty £4,418 first-place prize.
Speaking of the horse, O’Brien said: “He definitely deserved that. We decided to be more positive on him as well today and the step up in trip has helped him as well.
“He still didn’t jump great and I think he will be better once he jumps a fence. Paddy (Brennan) made a man of him out there today.
“The step up in trip looked ideal for him and he loves that ground. Well done to Exeter for getting the race on.”
Karl Philippe will now go to the Grade Three European Breeders’ Paddy Power National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on March 13.
O’Brien claimed that in 2016 with Barney Dwan so will be hopeful of history repeating itself with Redknapp’s runner.
Off the mark over timber
A deserved success for Karl Philippe who scores at the third time of asking over hurdles for @FOBRacing & @paddybrennan81 at @ExeterRaces
Results & free replays
https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/dLMSe0O73K
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 14, 2021
And Redknapp will keep a close eye on Shakem Up’Arry’s next run – because it could determine what happens at Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old is currently entered for two races at Jump racing’s biggest meet.
He is a 40-1 shot for Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday and a 33-1 chance for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle the day after.
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