1996 Grand National
Encyclopedia
The 1996 Grand National was the 149th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National
steeplechase
that took place at Aintree
on 30 March 1996.
The race was won in a time of nine minutes and 0.8 seconds and by a distance of one-and-a-quarter lengths by Rough Quest
, the 7/1 favourite, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
. The winner was trained by Terry Casey at his base in Dorking
, Surrey
, and ran in the colours of Andrew Wates, the chairman of Kempton Park Racecourse
. Casey collected £142,534 of a total prize fund shared through the first four finishers of over £230,000. A maximum of 40 competitors was permitted but only 27 ran. There was one equine fatality during the race.
at Kempton in February and then followed up by finishing second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
sixteen days before the National. Jockey Mick Fitzgerald took his second ride in the race. The favourite moved into contention at the start of the second circuit, taking the last flight in second place before overhauling the leader to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Son Of War was regarded as the housewives' choice, being the only grey
in the race and was considered the best hope of a first Irish-trained victory for over two decades, having won the Irish Grand National
in 1994. Connor O'Dwyer was taking his sixth ride in the race and had moved into tenth position when he was unseated at the Canal Turn
on the second circuit.
Young Hustler, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
, was having his third attempt in the National, having fallen early on in 1994
and being brought down before completing a circuit in 1995
. However he regained public confidence when winning the Becher Chase
over one circuit of the course in November. Chris Maude was given his second ride in the race and took the 8/1 shot to the front right from the start, remaining there until being headed turning for the second-last and eventually finishing fifth.
Superior Finish had also failed to complete a circuit of his previous attempt at the National in 1995 when considered an each-way chance but was backed down to 9/1 when the most experienced and successful rider in the race, Richard Dunwoody
, booked him as his 11th National ride after winning the Cazelet/Mildmay Memorial Chase in February. The horse looked to be struggling taking the Canal Turn for the second time but finished strongly, passing beaten horses to snatch third place on the line.
Life Of A Lord was a seventh National ride for Charlie Swan and was backed down to 10/1 after winning the Kerry Grand National the previous September. The only ever training entry of illustrious flat trainer Aidan O'Brien
, he had every chance when jumping the Canal Turn in fifth place but came under pressure after the third-last and faded to finish seventh.
Party Politics was a favourite among the masses of once-a-year punters, having won the race in 1992 and been second in 1995, and provided Carl Llewellyn with his sixth ride, having also been in the saddle for all three of his mount's previous attempts, including the void race of 1993
. The former winner was a shock faller at the third fence and was promptly retired.
Other well-fancied runners included 1995 Agfa Diamond Chase winner Deep Bramble who was pulled up after going lame on the way to the second-last fence and was later retired; twice Thystes Chase winner Wylde Hide who was still in touch in 11th place when unseating his rider at the Canal Turn second time around; Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup runner-up at Cheltenham Encore En Peu, who moved up to dispute the lead at Valentine's on the second circuit before going clear after the second-last, only to be headed after the elbow; and the 1994 Badger Ales Chase winner Lusty Light, despite having fallen at the first fence in 1995, who this time got around without ever getting into contention to finish a distant 16th.
Rust Never Sleeps and Deep Bramble were found to have broken down badly and while the latter recovered and was retired from racing, the former was euthanised. Former winner Party Politics was also retired after the race. Jason Titley was the only rider injured during the race and was taken to hospital after his fall at the first fence.
retained the rights to broadcast the race live on television for the 37th consecutive year and was shown as part of a Grandstand (BBC)
Grand National special, presented live from the course by Des Lynam
.
The build-up to the race included analysis of the runners from Richard Pitman
, Peter Scudamore
and Bill Smith and interviews with connections in the saddling boxes and parade ring from Sue Barker
, while Julian Wilson also provided special reports and a postscript of events afterwards.
The race itself was covered for the third consecutive year by commentary team John Hamner, Jim McGrath
, and lead commentator Peter O'Sullevan
, who called the winner home for the 49th year.
Pitman, Scudamore and Smith also covered a slow motion replay of the race.
While television pictures clearly showed David Bridgwater having to reel in the reins of his mount to avoid a collision, it was also evident that Rough Quest was finishing the stronger, having overtaken Encore En Peu on the run-in. The stewards upheld the result despite suggestions that the result would have been overturned in a less significant race. Julian Wilson commented on Grandstand: "The wonderful thing is that a change in the rules has allowed the winner to keep the race but to be honest ten or twelve years ago I think he would have been thrown out and the second would have got it." Second-placed Bridgwater said: "I thought three out that I was gonna win. Mick [Fitzgerald] has come across me and I've had to snatch up a little bit and had it been at Hereford I probably would have got it but being as it's Aintree and there's so many million people watching, they've gotta be a bit careful about it. It was the right result on the day. If I'd have got it in the stewards' room it wouldn't have felt like I'd won a Grand National."
There was also a stewards enquiry into third place but the result was also allowed to stand.
Once the enquiry was complete, Mick Fitzgerald made the infamous comment in a post-race interview: "I've not enjoyed 12 minutes for as long in a long time. I think sex is an anti-climax after that!"
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
that took place at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
on 30 March 1996.
The race was won in a time of nine minutes and 0.8 seconds and by a distance of one-and-a-quarter lengths by Rough Quest
Rough Quest
Rough Quest is a Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1996 Grand National at Aintree.The horse went to Aintree that year in very good form, having won the Racing Post Chase and finishing second in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup with the result that the public made him race...
, the 7/1 favourite, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...
. The winner was trained by Terry Casey at his base in Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and ran in the colours of Andrew Wates, the chairman of Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
. Casey collected £142,534 of a total prize fund shared through the first four finishers of over £230,000. A maximum of 40 competitors was permitted but only 27 ran. There was one equine fatality during the race.
Leading contenders
Rough Quest was sent off as 7/1 favourite having won the Racing Post ChaseRacing Post Chase
The Racing Post Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
at Kempton in February and then followed up by finishing second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
sixteen days before the National. Jockey Mick Fitzgerald took his second ride in the race. The favourite moved into contention at the start of the second circuit, taking the last flight in second place before overhauling the leader to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Son Of War was regarded as the housewives' choice, being the only grey
Gray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
in the race and was considered the best hope of a first Irish-trained victory for over two decades, having won the Irish Grand National
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
in 1994. Connor O'Dwyer was taking his sixth ride in the race and had moved into tenth position when he was unseated at the Canal Turn
Canal Turn
The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England....
on the second circuit.
Young Hustler, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
Nigel Twiston-Davies
Nigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....
, was having his third attempt in the National, having fallen early on in 1994
1994 Grand National
The 1994 Grand National was the 147th official renewal the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1994....
and being brought down before completing a circuit in 1995
1995 Grand National
The 1995 Grand National was the 148th official renewal of the famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 1995....
. However he regained public confidence when winning the Becher Chase
Becher Chase
The Becher Chase is a Listed National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped...
over one circuit of the course in November. Chris Maude was given his second ride in the race and took the 8/1 shot to the front right from the start, remaining there until being headed turning for the second-last and eventually finishing fifth.
Superior Finish had also failed to complete a circuit of his previous attempt at the National in 1995 when considered an each-way chance but was backed down to 9/1 when the most experienced and successful rider in the race, Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
, booked him as his 11th National ride after winning the Cazelet/Mildmay Memorial Chase in February. The horse looked to be struggling taking the Canal Turn for the second time but finished strongly, passing beaten horses to snatch third place on the line.
Life Of A Lord was a seventh National ride for Charlie Swan and was backed down to 10/1 after winning the Kerry Grand National the previous September. The only ever training entry of illustrious flat trainer Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
, he had every chance when jumping the Canal Turn in fifth place but came under pressure after the third-last and faded to finish seventh.
Party Politics was a favourite among the masses of once-a-year punters, having won the race in 1992 and been second in 1995, and provided Carl Llewellyn with his sixth ride, having also been in the saddle for all three of his mount's previous attempts, including the void race of 1993
1993 Grand National
The 1993 Grand National was scheduled on 3 April 1993 to be the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race, held annually at Aintree near Liverpool, England....
. The former winner was a shock faller at the third fence and was promptly retired.
Other well-fancied runners included 1995 Agfa Diamond Chase winner Deep Bramble who was pulled up after going lame on the way to the second-last fence and was later retired; twice Thystes Chase winner Wylde Hide who was still in touch in 11th place when unseating his rider at the Canal Turn second time around; Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup runner-up at Cheltenham Encore En Peu, who moved up to dispute the lead at Valentine's on the second circuit before going clear after the second-last, only to be headed after the elbow; and the 1994 Badger Ales Chase winner Lusty Light, despite having fallen at the first fence in 1995, who this time got around without ever getting into contention to finish a distant 16th.
Finishing order
| Position | Name | Jockey | Age | Weight (st, lb) | Starting price | Distance |
| 1st | Rough Quest Rough Quest Rough Quest is a Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1996 Grand National at Aintree.The horse went to Aintree that year in very good form, having won the Racing Post Chase and finishing second in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup with the result that the public made him race... |
Mick Fitzgerald Mick Fitzgerald Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the... |
10 | 10-07 | 7/1 F | Won by 1¼ lengths |
| 2nd | Encore Un Peu (FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
David Bridgwater | 9 | 10-00 | 14/1 | 16 lengths |
| 3rd | Superior Finish | Richard Dunwoody Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider... |
10 | 10-03 | 9/1 | Short head |
| 4th | Sir Peter Lely | Mr. Chris Bonner | 9 | 10-00 | 33/1 | ¾ length |
| 5th | Young Hustler | Chris Maude | 9 | 11-07 | 8/1 | 4 lengths |
| 6th | Three Brownies | Paul Carberry Paul Carberry Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers... |
9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | 14 lengths |
| 7th | Life Of A Lord | Charlie Swan | 10 | 11-06 | 10/1 | 13 lengths |
| 8th | Antonin (FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
John Burke | 8 | 10-00 | 28/1 | 2½ lengths |
| 9th | Over The Deel | Mr. Tim McCarthy | 10 | 10-00 | 33/1 | 15 lengths |
| 10th | Vicompt De Valmont | Philip Hide | 11 | 10-01 | 22/1 | 4 lengths |
| 11th | Captain Dibble | Tom Jenks | 11 | 10-00 | 40/1 | 2 lengths |
| 12th | Riverside Boy | David Walsh | 13 | 10-00 | 66/1 | 14 lengths |
| 13th | Over The Stream | Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to... |
10 | 10-00 | 50/1 | 14 lengths |
| 14th | Greenhill Raffles | Martin Foster | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | 3 lengths |
| 15th | Into The Red | Richard Guest | 12 | 10-00 | 33/1 | A distance |
| 16th | Lusty Light | Warren Marston | 10 | 10-11 | 14/1 | A distance |
| 17th | Sure Metal | Donald McCain, Jr. Donald McCain, Jr. Donald McCain, Jr. is an English racehorse trainer and former jockey whose father, Ginger McCain, trained four Grand National winning horses.McCain, Jr., has trained four Cheltenham Festival winners as well as the 2011 Grand National winner, Ballabriggs.... |
13 | 10-01 | 200/1 | Last to complete |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Name | Jockey | Age | Weight (st, lb) | Starting price | Fate |
| 1st | Bavard Dieu (IRE Republic of Ireland Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,... ) |
Jason Titley | 8 | 10-01 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| Bishops Hall | Mr. Marcus Armytage Marcus Armytage Marcus Armytage is a journalist and former National Hunt jockey who won the Grand National as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College.... |
10 | 10-01 | 22/1 | Unseated rider | |
| 3rd | Party Politics | Carl Llewellyn | 12 | 10-11 | 10/1 | Fell |
| 5th | Chatam (USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... ) |
Jonothan Lower | 12 | 10-03 | 40/1 | Refused |
| 13th | Rust Never Sleeps | Trevor Horgan | 12 | 10-00 | 20/1 | Pulled up |
| 19th | Brackenfield | Guy Lewis | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Far Senior | Tim Eley | 10 | 10-00 | 150/1 | Tailed off, pulled up |
| 24th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Son Of War | Conor O'Dwyer | 9 | 11-00 | 8/1 | Unseated rider |
| Wylde Hide | Francis Woods | 9 | 10-00 | 12/1 | Unseated rider | |
| 28th | Deep Bramble | Tony McCoy Tony McCoy Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey.... |
8 | 10-01 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
Rust Never Sleeps and Deep Bramble were found to have broken down badly and while the latter recovered and was retired from racing, the former was euthanised. Former winner Party Politics was also retired after the race. Jason Titley was the only rider injured during the race and was taken to hospital after his fall at the first fence.
Coverage
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
retained the rights to broadcast the race live on television for the 37th consecutive year and was shown as part of a Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
Grand National special, presented live from the course by Des Lynam
Des Lynam
Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
.
The build-up to the race included analysis of the runners from Richard Pitman
Richard Pitman
Richard Pitman, is a retired jump jockey who rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle). He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse twice, the Whitbread Gold Cup once and the Hennessy Gold Cup once....
, Peter Scudamore
Peter Scudamore
Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career...
and Bill Smith and interviews with connections in the saddling boxes and parade ring from Sue Barker
Sue Barker
Susan Barker, MBE is an English television presenter and former professional tennis player. During her tennis career, she won the women's singles title at the French Open and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3...
, while Julian Wilson also provided special reports and a postscript of events afterwards.
The race itself was covered for the third consecutive year by commentary team John Hamner, Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath (Australian commentator)
Jim Aloysius McGrath is the BBC's senior horse racing commentator. He was previously deputy race commentator, and sometimes a paddock commentator.-Career:...
, and lead commentator Peter O'Sullevan
Peter O'Sullevan
Sir Peter O'Sullevan is a retired horse racing commentator for the BBC from 1947 to 1997, and correspondent for the Press Association, Daily Express and Today.-Early life:...
, who called the winner home for the 49th year.
Pitman, Scudamore and Smith also covered a slow motion replay of the race.
Stewards' enquiry
The 1996 race was only the second National in history where a stewards' enquiry was called against the winner. The possibility that Rough Quest had crossed and impeded Encore En Peu on the run-in was investigated.While television pictures clearly showed David Bridgwater having to reel in the reins of his mount to avoid a collision, it was also evident that Rough Quest was finishing the stronger, having overtaken Encore En Peu on the run-in. The stewards upheld the result despite suggestions that the result would have been overturned in a less significant race. Julian Wilson commented on Grandstand: "The wonderful thing is that a change in the rules has allowed the winner to keep the race but to be honest ten or twelve years ago I think he would have been thrown out and the second would have got it." Second-placed Bridgwater said: "I thought three out that I was gonna win. Mick [Fitzgerald] has come across me and I've had to snatch up a little bit and had it been at Hereford I probably would have got it but being as it's Aintree and there's so many million people watching, they've gotta be a bit careful about it. It was the right result on the day. If I'd have got it in the stewards' room it wouldn't have felt like I'd won a Grand National."
There was also a stewards enquiry into third place but the result was also allowed to stand.
Once the enquiry was complete, Mick Fitzgerald made the infamous comment in a post-race interview: "I've not enjoyed 12 minutes for as long in a long time. I think sex is an anti-climax after that!"