Grand National: Cappa Bleu can dash Katie Walsh hopes THE Walsh family are already assured of Grand National history, but father Ted and his jockey son and daughter Ruby and Katie, all have the chance of grabbing another slice of glory in today's big race. Pre-race attention has been firmly focused on Katie, who partners Seabass - trained by her dad - who finished third with her on board last year and is fancied by many to propel the jockey into super-stardom as the first woman ever to win the famous Aintree contest. However, Walsh snr has another string to his bow with the progressive Colbert Station, who gets the services of Tony McCoy, while Ruby is riding the Willie Mullins-trained On His Own. That trio of runners was last night among a nap hand of 12-1 co-favourites with the bookmakers, although public money will decide who goes off as the market leader by the time the horses line up at 4.15. It is another one of that quintet - with no Walsh connection - Cappa Bleu, however who gets today's Scotsman's vote to come out on top of the 40-runner, four-mile, three-and-a-half furlong battle. The Katie Walsh factor has added glamour to an alluring contest, but her father fears that Seabass has been punished too harshly by the handicapper for his third-place run 12 months ago. Ted Walsh - who won the National with Papillon in 2000 - said: "When you are second in the National you are going to get 5lb or 6lb. I thought he (Seabass) got plenty in 6lb for being third. Realistically horses of his calibre don't win the National with 11st 7lb, 11st 8lb or 11st 9lb on their backs. Something around 10st 7lb or 10st 8lb is more likely to win it. A relaxed Katie Walsh added: "I'm just hoping to get from fence-to-fence and if he runs the same race as he did last year I'd be over the moon." Turning to his other runner, who will also come in for a ton of money with the champion jockey having picked him ahead of several other JP McManus-owned rivals, Ted Walsh said: "I've no worry about the trip for Colbert Station. He jumps really well and is maybe lacking a bit in experience. Colbert Station is a big power horse, weight won't bother him and he jumps really well. He's been a brilliant jumper of fences and, touch wood, I won't put the mockers on him. He's very accurate at what he does and he loves jumping. He's quicker through the air than Seabass and I hope he's just as careful. Heading the ante-post lists for some time has been Ruby's mount On His Own, owned by Scottish computer tycoon Graham Wylie and his wife Andrea. On His Own's only run since falling a year ago was when winning the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February, but Mullins said: "I don't think the drying ground will be any harm to him. There was nothing suitable for him after his first run back over hurdles, but he's here now and in good shape. The Walsh family may well have a big part to play in the race, but the Evan Williams-trained Cappa Bleu was fourth in last year's National and has filled the runner-up spot on his two starts this season. Williams said: "He's had a great preparation. The drying ground doesn't worry me, it's probably a positive, and we just have to hope for some luck in running now. Meanwhile, Nigel Twiston-Davies says it would be the clear highlight of his career if Imperial Commander can become only the third Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in history to claim the Grand National. Golden Miller won the Gold Cup on five successive occasions between 1932 and 1936 and also claimed Aintree glory in 1934. Dual Gold Cup winner L'Escargot won the National in 1975, preventing Liverpool legend Red Rum from winning the race for third successive year, although he would, of course, go on to complete the hat-trick a couple of years later. With history against him and top-weight on his back, it is clear the 12-year-old Imperial Commander has plenty on his plate. But Twiston-Davies is confident his pride and joy retains all the old enthusiasm and ability that took him to a famous Gold Cup victory over no lesser horses than Denman and Kauto Star three years ago. His talents certainly appeared relatively undiminished when he returned from a near two-year absence with a superb second in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January, but he missed the chance to reclaim his Gold Cup crown through a lung infection. Twiston-Davies knows what it takes to win the National, having saddled two previous winners in Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002). Asked where a victory for Imperial Commander would rank in his career, he said: "It wouldn't get any better than that. 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. I think he's as good as ever. Trainer Donald McCain is also confident Ballabriggs, the 2011 National hero and sixth last year, will do himself justice. McCain said: "The ground has come right for him (Ballabriggs) and as long as we get a bit of luck in running, you'd have to be very hopeful." Champion trainer Paul Nicholls broke his National duck with Neptune Collonges last year and this time saddles Join Together, What A Friend and Harry The Viking.