Sir Rembrandt ready for Haydock feature

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt will face six rivals in tomorrow’s Tommy Whittle Chase as he continues his build-up to another crack at chasing’s blue riband event next March.

The Robert Alner-trained gelding performed well when second on his reappearance in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase, but appeared unsuited by Exeter’s right-handed circuit when last of four behind Best Mate in the William Hill Chase last month.

However, both Alner and rider Andrew Thornton have been upbeat on his progress in recent days and he is comfortably the highest rated horse in the Haydock Park feature.

“I am very happy with him,” said Alner. “I rode him myself this morning, and Andrew came over a few days ago and jumped a few fences on him.

“I am looking forward to the race, he should be suited to the conditions of the race, he will enjoy going left-handed again, although perhaps he would be better over three and a quarter miles rather than just three miles.”

Ferdy Murphy’s work-rider Keith Mercer has reported Truckers Tavern to be “the best he has felt all year” ahead of his big test in the Tommy Whittle.

The nine-year-old has not reproduced the form that saw him finish second in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup, although he produced a satisfactory second to Keen Leader in this Grade Two event last year.

He failed to complete in his subsequent three runs that season, but made a promising reappearance over hurdles at Ayr last month, and the Leyburn handler appears confident of his prospects.

“He is very well and had a good blow this morning,” he said. “Keith has ridden him out all season and he says that the horse is by far the best he has felt all year."

Last season’s very useful novice Pizarro travels over from Eddie O’Grady’s yard in Ireland, along with the Charles Byrnes-trained front-runner Cloudy Bays, in what looks a very competitive renewal of the Grade Two contest.

The three other runners are Horus, who won the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase three weeks ago, along with Sue Smith’s Chives, who was second that day, and Peter Bowen’s Welsh raider Take The Stand.