The five star horses who defined Robert Alner's career

Cool Dawn

The story of Cool Dawn's 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory is a remarkable one. He was entrusted into Robert Alner's care by owner Dido Harding in 1996 and the trainer masterminded a transformation from hunter chaser to Gold Cup winner in less than two years.

On his first start in almost a year, Cool Dawn marked his seasonal reappearance in 1997 with a 47-length defeat in a Class 2 handicap at Wincanton.

However, following a switch to more positive tactics, the five-time point-to-point winner rose through the handicap ranks with a hat-trick of victories at Ascot, before a trapped nerve sustained in a race at Sandown six weeks before Gold Cup day put his participation in doubt. But in a marvellous training display, Alner had Cool Dawn ready to strike for one of the biggest shocks in modern Gold Cup history.

Cool Dawn is led into the winner's enclosure by Robert Alner after winning the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup

No Gold Cup winner in the 20 runnings since Cool Dawn's 25-1 success has been a bigger price, and none have been as old as the ten-year-old.

The Gold Cup victory was Cool Dawn's last success. In four subsequent starts he was pulled up three times, and a problem with his vertebrae led to his retirement nine months after his finest hour.

Miko De Beauchene

On a hugely poignant afternoon at Chepstow in 2007, Miko De Beauchene dug deep to get up and win the Welsh National while Alner was fighting for his life, having been left paralysed by a car crash.

In what is always a gruelling test of stamina, jockey Andrew Thornton had to work hard on his mount to keep him in contention before finding more at the finish to get his head up on the line.

Robert Alner's wife Sally and jockey Andrew Thornton after winning the 2007 Welsh National with Miko De BeaucheneCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was an emotional victory for all concerned, with Alner's wife Sally having missed her daily trip to the hospital to lead Miko De Beauchene back into the winner's enclosure.

The Listener

A four-time Grade 1 winner in Ireland, this grey quickly became a favourite with many jump racing fans due to his front-running style. He promised much in his novice chase season, securing a pair of Grade 2 victories, although he fell two out in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase on his final start of the season.

Alner always had his horses in great shape for the bumper Christmas period, and The Listener was no different. His first and biggest win of his career arrived in the Lexus Chase in December 2006, when he dominated his rivals to win by eight lengths.

The Listener and Daryl Jacob in action in the 2006 Lexus ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The following year he landed the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown and, after failing in his bid for a second Lexus when he lost to Denman, he added the Irish Hennessy to his CV when soaring clear to win by five and a half lengths in 2008.

In his only tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in 2007, he finished 11th as Kauto Star ruled supreme.

In a golden era when jump racing was blessed with Denman and Kauto Star, The Listener's achievements could be overshadowed but, as his RPR of 171 demonstrates, he was exceptional in his own right.

Kingscliff

Kingscliff collected his solitary Grade 1 success when landing the Betfair Chase at Haydock in 2005, but his Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2003 would have been cherished just as much by the Alners.

Robert Alner and jockey Robert Walford celebrate Kingscliff's success in the 2005 Betfair ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prolific in point-to-points and hunter chases, Kingscliff was sent off that day as the 11-4 favourite and duly delivered for punters when coming clear to beat Bright Approach by two and a half lengths. His success symbolised the family-run nature of the Alner operation as the trainer's wife Sally was responsible for the Foxhunter win.

Sir Rembrandt

Although no horse has won the Gold Cup at odds of 25-1 or bigger since Cool Dawn, Alner almost achieved another Cheltenham shock when 33-1 shot Sir Rembrandt went down by just half a length to Best Mate in 2004.

A year later Sir Rembrandt produced another brilliant display to finish third behind Kicking King and Take The Stand. Yet despite these superb performances in defeat, he never claimed a win at the highest level. The placed efforts in the Gold Cup were preceded by another admirable run in the 2003 Welsh National, when finishing a close second to 2002 Grand National winner Bindaree.

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips