Alner Outlines Plans For Star Duo

Robert Alner's smart experienced staying chasers Sir Rembrandt and Kingscliff are set to reappear in the near future.

Kingscliff is on target to try for back-to-back victories in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week, while Sir Rembrandt will go to Cheltenham on Saturday or the totesport Becher Chase at Aintree on Sunday week.

Both pleased their trainer Robert Alner when finishing third and fourth respectively behind Our Vic in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month on their first run of the autumn.

'Both ran very well at Wetherby and we are very happy with them. Kingscliff goes for the Betfair at Haydock and Sir Rembrandt goes to the Becher Chase at Aintree or a race at Cheltenham at the weekend,' said the Dorset trainer.

The John Smith's Grand National is the long-term aim for Sir Rembrandt, who would have run in the Aintree marathon last season had he not met with a late setback.

Alner added: 'We were dead unlucky last year. He pulled a muscle just before the race. We had every intention to run him.

'He'll possibly take in the Welsh National and all being well then the English National.

'He won't go for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this season, we'll focus on the National proper.'

Alner plans to give Kingscliff a mid-season break and said: 'He'll run in the Betfair Chase, then we'll assess the situation.

'We plan to give him a break in mid-season anyway, but we'll see what happens in that race.

'When he has not run up to form there's generally been a physical problem, not a mental one,' he told Racing UK.

(C) PA Sport