Harry Redknapp splashed out on a new horse behind his wife’s back after a freak conversation with his cleaner.
The legendary Premier League manager has two horses competing at this week’s Cheltenham Festival: Shakem Up’Arry in Thursday’s Handicap Chase and Yellow Car in Friday’s Novices’ Hurdle. But the story behind how the latter came into his possession is an astonishing one.
Racing enthusiast Redknapp, 78, revealed last month that he was recently given a proposition to buy Yellow Car, which he initially turned down. But after a strange exchange with his cleaner, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss made a U-turn, splurging out and adding a new horse to his collection.
“I bought a horse last week,” Redknapp told talkSPORT. “I got a message from a fella called Graeme McPherson. He’s a good trainer, he trains down near Cheltenham.
“He sent me a message saying he’s got a nice horse for sale called ‘Yellow Car’. I thought no, I don’t want to buy another horse. I get a knock at the door, the girl comes round who does our cleaning.
“She says ‘hello Harry, I’ve taken my car in for a service, look what they’ve given me, this yellow car’. I thought ‘no, this is an omen’. So I went back on the phone and bought the bleeding horse!”
In a stunning twist, Redknapp admitted he hadn’t even told his wife Sandra yet about the purchase. He added: “I hope the missus isn’t listening because she doesn’t know about this one yet.”
The ex-West Ham and Portsmouth manager-turned-racehorse owner became a Cheltenham Festival winner for the first time last year when Shakem Up’Arry carried his colours to victory in the Plate 12 months ago.
The Ben Pauling-trained chaser – ridden by Ben Jones – also has an entry in the Ultima Chase. And though his top novice chaser, The Jukebox Man, is out injured, all eyes will be on the seven-year-old Yellow Car in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Redknapp will also come up against former managerial rival Sir Alex Ferguson, with the legendary Manchester United manager having eight horses in action at Cheltenham this week. Ferguson has Hitman, L’Eau Du Sud, Protektorat, Monmiral and Sonigino back at Cheltenham after racing in 2024, as well as Kalif du Berlais, Caldwell Potter and Potters Charm.
On Tuesday, Sir Alex had L’Eau Du Sud running in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, where he finished fourth. On Wednesday, he has Potters’ Charm in the Turners’ Novices Hurdle, which is the opening race of the day.
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