Harry Redknapp faces an anxious wait to see if Shakem Up’Arry makes it into Saturday’s Grand National.
The former West Ham and Tottenham manager needs drop-outs from the field for his Cheltenham Festival winner to make the Aintree showpiece.
The UK’s ongoing inclement weather could aid its cause ahead of the final declaration on Thursday morning, with some trainers having already made it clear they will pull out their entries from the 34-strong line-up if the going does not firm up.
Like Redknapp, jockey Ben Jones is nervously waiting for updates in a bid to renew his partnership with the 10-year-old, which worked to such good effect in giving Jones his first Festival winner, in the Plate Handicap Chase, last month.
“I was originally riding the next day, so I came back to my wife and little girl and had an Indian meal that night,” he said. “I was getting videos and photos of Harry celebrating pretty strong with all the team. It’d be great to get a chance to do that again.”
Jones was drafted in to ride the horse in December for the first time and has won two of his three races on board. “I’ve been incredibly lucky for Harry,” he said. “I’ve ridden a few times for him and luckily they’ve all gone pretty well.
“He’s such a level-headed guy. When he walks into the paddock, it’s always with a smile on his face and he’s welcoming. When you ride for people like that, the weight goes off your shoulders, plus he likes to celebrate.”
Ben Jones on board Shakem Up’Arry winning the Plate at Cheltenham Festival (Dan Abraham/Focusonracing)
As for Welsh rider Jones’s own footballing allegiance, none are with the myriad former clubs who Redknapp managed.
“I like watching the Premier League and Match of the Day and usually end up supporting who’s doing the best,” he said.
A rising star, Jones has reached 50 winners in a season for the first time in his career this season and lies in the top 10 in the jockeys’ championship.
On his debut in the National last year, he got round on 125-1 shot Francky Du Berlais but finished well down the order and, like many of his peers, it is the one race above all others he aspires to win.
“In my eyes, it’s the biggest race to win,” said Jones. “People talk of the Grand National or the Gold Cup and it’s always been the National for me.”
Born into a racing family — his father, Dai, is clerk of the course at Chepstow — tuning into the National was a mainstay each year. His first main memory of the steeplechase is not of a winner, but Balthazar King finishing runner-up 10 years ago.
And there is a family link-up on the Aintree race card, with his sister-in-law, Natalie Parker, riding in the Foxhunters’ Chase on Thursday. Of his own foray in the National, he recalls the immense tension as the race was delayed by animal rights activists.
“You need your first one in the race to tick it off the list and, if Harry gets in, you’d like to think he’d have a bit of confidence,” he said. Should he not, Jones will instead ride him in the £175,000 Topham at Aintree. “Until the final declaration, you’re biting your fingernails to find out who’s running.”
Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here.
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »