Tottenham Hotspur dismissed their manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday and are now searching for a replacement. The team’s 2-1 defeat against Newcastle has worsened their relegation concerns, making Frank’s continuation in charge impossible. Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has been rumored as a potential candidate to return, but ex-Premier League striker Charlie Austin has dismissed the possibility.
Redknapp, a passionate horse racing enthusiast, owns several high-quality racehorses, such as Jukebox Man and Shake ’em Up Alley. Jukebox Man is his standout horse, having won the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. As one of the frontrunners for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, Redknapp is expected to attend the event. Austin tweeted that Redknapp would likely prioritize watching Jukebox Man compete over taking up the Spurs managerial role. He added, “The Cheltenham Festival is coming up and he is a horse who has raced the whole time and is at the top of the market! Spurs fans, please understand that you are not a big club anymore. You just have an elite stadium and a training ground!!!”
Although Jukebox Man is among the favorites, winning the Gold Cup on March 20th is still a challenge. The horse will compete against former champions like Galopin Des Champs and Inotewayursinkin, who have demonstrated their ability on Cheltenham’s demanding hills. Trainer Willie Mullins may also enter strong contenders such as Fact to File, Gaelic Warrior, or I Am Maximus to bolster the competition. Nicky Henderson’s Django Bay is another significant rival that Jukebox Man will need to reckon with.
Fan Take: This development highlights how intertwined the worlds of football and horse racing can be, especially with figures like Harry Redknapp who have a foot in both arenas. For horse racing enthusiasts, Redknapp’s potential focus on the Cheltenham Festival signals the ongoing prestige and excitement of the event, which continues to attract attention beyond traditional racing circles.
