Shakem Up’arry recorded a first Festival success for owner Harry Redknapp, taking the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase under an inspired ride from Ben Jones.
Football stars had dominated the racing headlines during the day, with Sir Alex Ferguson also achieved a first Festival winner before following up forty minutes later with a quickfire double. The Ben Pauling-trained Shakem Up'Arry appeared to have an excellent chance in the formbook, having placed third in this race twelve months ago. The ten-year-old gelding had enjoyed a successful season so far, finishing sixth in the Coral Gold Cup before a Cheltenham victory on New Year's Day.
Glengoully set a solid early pace in front, giving jockey Ben Jones the opportunity to settle Shakem Up'Arry into a good rhythm in the midfield. As the field rounded the final turn, Shakem Up'Arry and Frero Banbou came to the fore, jumping the second-last together. Whilst Shakem Up'Arry appeared to be in control after the final fence, the wily gelding began to pull himself up before the line, giving Crebilly and Straw Fan Jack the opportunity to get within lengths of the eventual winner.
Redknapp was delighted with his winner and said: "This is an incredible day and Ben [Jones] gave him a fantastic ride. He travelled so well and I thought, 'Please don't stop now'. People behind me were going, 'Go on Harry, he's won!' and I thought, 'No he ain't until he has passed the line'.
"To have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival has been my dream. I wouldn't like to find out how my heart rate is. I'm so pleased that I'm lost for words."
Talking about his love of racing and its connection with football, he said: "I've grown up with racing being a big part of my life. My old nan was the bookie's runner down our street in the East End and she used to get locked up every day for taking bets. To be here now in this position is incredible. When I was at West Ham [United] as a player, we had a team of punters as that was how it was back in those days. We all loved a bet and we all loved racing.
"I've been lucky to be able to get into racing as an owner. It is really incredible for me. It was special today. You buy horses, and get horses, and you dream of having a winner at Cheltenham.
"Me and [Sir] Alex [Ferguson, who part-owned winners Monmiral and Protektorat today] have had some great days. Going to Old Trafford I used to go in his office at 2.15pm when the teams had been sent out and we would then watch a bit of racing for 15 minutes. We would then go out and I would do my best to try and pull off a miracle and get a result at Old Trafford, as it was that difficult in them days.
"We would watch a bit of racing beforehand as we both loved the racing, and we both loved the football. It is great to see him have two winners today. It was lovely to get that sort of reception."
Trainer Ben Pauling added: "I campaigned him [Shakem Up'Arry] very badly in the early part of his career and put him against horses like Shishkin, so he's deserved his big day and that's that.
"The past two days have been really tough and there's been a lot of talk about the Irish and the English, but to say that we don't have the hunger for the game is so wrong. We have as much hunger as anyone, and Dan [Skelton]'s proved that. I think Dan is a superb fella and I'm chuffed to pieces for him, but that doesn't mean we didn't want one.
"I turned up with three horses yesterday who I thought would be in the [first] three, and I think we beat three horses home, so you have doubts about this and that - have I done too much with them and that sort of thing. This is where it matters and to have got one with his head in front means you can breathe. We came here with a good team and the old stalwart has chucked his head in front.
"It was a change of tactics as I told Ben [Jones] to go for it early as he always comes there travelling, looking like the winner, but doesn't always go through with it. So I said, 'If you turn for home going well, put some distance between yourself and then see if you can hang on.' It's great for Ben and it's great for the team."
In the final race on the card, the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase, conditions became attritional as heavy rain hit the track before the off. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin defied top weight in the stamina sapping-contest, jumping to the front in the final stages under a confident ride from Derek O'Connor to justify favouritism. Git Maker finished best of the British in second for Jamie Snowden, with the Henry De Bromhead trained Whacker Clan in third.
