Sonic Pioneer keeps Harry Redknapp on crest of a wave

Harry Redknapp was still on “cloud nine” on Monday, after his Sonic Pioneer defied a blowout en route to Kempton Park to ignite Cheltenham Festival dreams.

The FA Cup-winning manager watched his pride and joy The Jukebox Man set up a Boxing Day trip to the Sunbury track with a brilliant winning return at Haydock on Saturday.

And only 48-hours later, his new recruit, who is trained by Martin Keighley, survived a fraught spell on the side of the M3 motorway to make all in the hands of Sean Bowen, landing the Live Racing Streaming At CopyBet Juvenile Hurdle by 14 lengths at odds of 7-2.

Redknapp said: “That was a pleasant surprise. Martin said he’d been working great, but you never know until they get on course and he jumped them beautiful didn’t he, what a performance.

“A wheel came off on his way here on the M3 and it was very dangerous. He was stuck up there a couple of hours in a horsebox, which wasn’t an ideal preparation.

“I had a small amount on because they told me the favourite, David Pipe’s horse Parchment, was a machine so I thought we were running for second.

“He looks a nice horse doesn’t he and the funny thing is I spoke to Gary Moore and he said his Jamie wanted to buy him when we bought him, so I thought if Jamie wanted him maybe he would be a nice horse as he is a great judge. I’m really pleased.”

He added: “I’m still on cloud nine and Saturday was amazing, but that was great as well and he hasn’t scrambled home, he’s been impressive.”