Sir Rembrandt examined after poor show

Robert Alner will give Sir Rembrandt a thorough examination this week after his disappointing show in the Pillar Property Chase…

Robert Alner will give Sir Rembrandt a thorough examination this week after his disappointing show in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

The eight-year-old was pulled up by jockey Andrew Thornton on the second circuit of the Grade Two event after failing to get in the race.

The Coral Welsh National runner-up was always towards the rear of the field and he did not jump fluently throughout.

However, Alner reports no obvious problems today.

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"He's absolutely fine this morning. He ate up and there seems to be nothing wrong with him," he said.

"We'll go through the process with him now but there's nothing to report at the moment. Obviously, something was amiss but he's as happy as larry this morning - in fact, he was after Andrew pulled him up.

"I think it may be something muscular.

"Andrew was never happy with his jumping, he seemed to be jumping slightly right, but he actually nearly ran off with him on the way to the start."

Sir Rembrandt is a 25-1 shot with William Hill for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, but Alner is reluctant to commit to any plans at present.

"Until we find out what's wrong with him, we can't really say where he will go next," he added.

Alner did have some encouraging news on his other stable star Kingscliff, who is due back at his Locketts Farm yard next week.

The seven-year-old has been staying with equine physio Mary Bromiley since suffering the first defeat of his career in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock earlier this month.

"I think he's coming back to me next week. I saw him a couple of days ago and he looked really well. I should think we will probably go straight to the Gold Cup with him now," Alner said.