Nigel Twiston-Davies is confident his pride and joy, Imperial Commander, can become only the third Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in history to claim the John Smith's Grand National today.
Golden Miller won the Gold Cup on five successive occasions between 1932 and 1936 and triumphed at Aintree in 1934. Dual Gold Cup winner L'Escargot won the National in 1975, preventing the legendary Red Rum from winning the race for the third successive year, although he would, of course, go on to complete the hat-trick two years later.
It's been three years since Imperial Commander beat the likes of Denman and Kauto Star to win the Gold Cup but Twiston-Davies said: "I'm not worried about the statistics, Red Rum won it as a 12-year-old, so there's no reason why we can't do it."
Imperial Commander will be partnered for the first time in public by the trainer's son, Sam. "I've schooled him over a few National replica fences at home and he seemed to take to them very well," said Twiston-Davies Jr.
Ted Walsh, who savoured National glory with Papillon in 2000, meanwhile, fields two major contenders for glory this afternoon in Seabass and Colbert Station.
Seabass was an excellent third 12 months ago and is once again partnered by the trainer's daughter, Katie, while the progressive Colbert Station gets the services of Tony McCoy.
"When you are second in the National you are going to get 5lb or 6lb," said Walsh. "I thought he [Seabass] got plenty in 6lb for being third. Realistically horses of his calibre don't win the National with 11st 7, 8 or 9lb on their backs. Something around 10st 7 or 8lb is more likely to win it."
Katie Walsh, added: "To be honest, I'm just hoping to get from fence-to-fence and if he runs the same race as he did last year I'll be over the moon."
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