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.”

Sonic Pioneer was given an opening quote of 33-1 for the Triumph Hurdle by Coral, and Keighley suggested the youngster could get a dress rehearsal at Prestbury Park on Trials day in January.

He said: “There’s a Grade Two on Festival Trials day, but we’ll have a look and make a plan.

“The blowout was a nightmare and I didn’t think we would get him here and instead of being on the horsebox for two hours he was on it for four hours and I only got him here an hour before the race.

“Luckily he is a laid-back character and when I checked him over he seemed chilled so we let him take his chance and then he’s gone and done that. He looks very smart.

“He’s won on soft on the Flat and has form on good ground so I think we’ll be versatile. We’re a small yard and it’s quite hard to get these good horses, but hopefully we’ve got one here.”