Robert Alner says top chaser Sir Rembrandt is in 'great form' as he plans a dual National assault with the 10-year-old.
Runner-up to Best Mate in the 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup and third to Kicking King in the following year's renewal, Sir Rembrandt disappointed when pulled up in the Grade Three Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month.
But Alner professes to be more than happy with the Mandalus gelding. The Blandford handler said: 'Sir Rembrandt is in great form and he's prancing around at home. We are training him for the Welsh National, for which he carries 11st 5lb. That's the big plan, anyway ? he always runs well at Chepstow.
'He disappointed a bit at Cheltenham, but in hindsight we perhaps should have waited with him ? we were going to run him in the Becher Chase at Aintree, but the owner wanted to wait because Andrew \[Thornton], his usual rider, couldn't ride him on that occasion.
'So we ran him a week earlier and it was obviously a bit too much after he had run so well previously at Wetherby, when he was he was a good third to Our Vic. He had a hard race there, but he's full of himself now and we might just have a look at another race as well, just in case the Welsh National is called off.
'The Grand National is his target after that, but I suppose we'll look for a plan B in case the Welsh National doesn't come to fruition.'
Alner also confirmed that Kingscliff, who finished last of six in the Betfair Bowl at Haydock last month, has been turned out ? but expects him to return for a crack at the Gold Cup in March.
Alner confirmed: 'We had to give him a rest after Haydock and he's been turned out. He'll probably be sent to do some swimming in January and the aim is still to train him for the Gold Cup.'
(C) PA Sport
