Former Portsmouth and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp avoids abandoning football show after horse race cancelled

FORMER Portsmouth and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp did not have to abandon his debut on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday so he could watch his horse run in a £125,000 race.
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Redknapp's first appearance on the Sky Sports show was set to clash with Shakem Up'Arry's contest at Newbury.

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Redknapp, 73, had said he would pop off to cheer on his horse - which dons a mixture of red, white and blue in reference to his Pompey, Spurs and West Ham days - in the Betfair Hurdle at 3.35pm.

Former Pompey manager Harry Redknapp
Picture: Habibur RahmanFormer Pompey manager Harry Redknapp
Picture: Habibur Rahman
Former Pompey manager Harry Redknapp Picture: Habibur Rahman
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But Redknapp's horse - who has one victory in eight races and was a 16-1 shot to win - did not have put its owner in an invidious position after the race was abandoned amid freezing temperatures.

Racing fanatic Redknapp said earlier in the week: ‘They asked me about six weeks ago with Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson and the gang, and I said I'd do it.

‘But I didn't know the horse was running.

‘I'll have to find a way (to get out) for five minutes and make sure they're showing a film of something else so I can watch the race, because I'm not missing it.’

But the cold weather meant Redknapp, who is currently helping out temporary Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate, did not have to miss out after the race was cancelled.

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