Ben Pauling provides positive update on The Jukebox Man
King George hero is on the road to recovery after setback.
Ben Pauling has his fingers crossed The Jukebox Man could make a return to action sooner than he originally anticipated.
The eight-year-old suffered a setback in September that delayed his season and the Naunton handler will not bring his Harry Redknapp-owned star back before he is ready.
The Jukebox Man produced a career best on Boxing Day last year when holding off Banbridge by a nose to win a pulsating renewal of the King George VI Chase, a second Grade One triumph after winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over the same course and distance the year before.
Last seen finishing eighth in the Gold Cup, The Jukebox Man is progressing well in his recovery, with spring targets very much on the agenda, but connections will tread carefully with him.
Pauling said: “He’s good, we had a very positive vet report on him the other day so we’ll make a decision in the next month about whether we bring him back for the end of November or not.
“It wasn’t serious, but he’s a big, heavy horse and I don’t think he’s a horse that we need to rush back unless we’re 100 per cent happy, but it is all going very well.”