Rembrant still in National picture
Sir Rembrandt could still take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National as long as he gets his favoured conditions at Aintree on April 8.
Robert Alner’s tough stayer kept on to finish seventh behind War Of Attrition in last week’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on going considered too quick for the 10-year-old and his stable companion Kingscliff, who finished a disappointing 10th in the same race.
Both horses are reported to be none the worse for their exertions and Alner said: “We are going to rough off Kingscliff because there’s not really anything left for him.
“We are going to keep going with Sir Rembrandt and take a view on the Grand National nearer the time, we wouldn’t want it to be riding fast for him.
“Sir Rembrandt needs cut in the ground but he was staying on at the end of the Gold Cup.
“Kingscliff also wants softer ground but I suppose he was a bit disappointing.
“It was completely different ground when he won at Haydock but Kingscliff finished about the same distance in front of Beef Or Salmon at Haydock as he did in the Gold Cup when they both didn’t show their form.”
Alner had suffered an earlier disappointment at the Festival when his smart novice The Listener fell two out when held in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
“The Listener is fine and we are going to keep him going as well. We’ve made no secret of the fact he wants soft or heavy ground but there is only one Cheltenham,” Alner added.
“The main thing is to bring them home safe and sound, which we did.”
