National not on Rembrandt's agenda
Dorset-based trainer Robert Alner has ruled out a tilt at this season’s Martell Cognac Grand National with his progressive stayer Sir Rembrandt.
The seven-year-old gelding was having only his sixth start over fences when finishing a gallant half-length second to Bindaree in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow yesterday, when sent off the heavily-backed 2-1 favourite.
“We don’t really know what to do with him but the National is a definite no-no. We aren’t going to even enter him in the National this time,” Alner said today.
“We’ll enter him in the Gold Cup and just have a look around. We haven’t made any decisions at all at the moment.
“The Gold Cup is an option and you’ve got to enter them soon. So we’ll enter him at least and see what’s about.”
William Hill had quoted Sir Rembrandt at 20-1 for the Aintree marathon while the same firm makes him a 14-1 chance for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Sir Rembrandt has taken his Chepstow exertions well.
“He ate up and he’s absolutely fine,” Alner continued.
“He only just got beaten and was giving 9lb away.
“He made that mistake at the first in the straight (fifth last) which obviously didn’t help him. Nevertheless he jumped the last really well and looked like winning but the other horse just wouldn’t go away. That’s racing but he’s run a blinder.
“We are totally happy but of course we would have liked to have won. He did everything but win. He did nothing wrong and fought on as well.
“There are no excuses whatsoever. We are just very pleased with how he ran.”
Alner was more definite about plans for his other Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate Kingscliff and added: “He will either run in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on January 10 or the Pillar Property Chase, a conditions race at Cheltenham on January 24.”
Kingscliff is a 5-1 chance with William Hill for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
