presented live from the course by Des Lynam. The race would start earlier this year at 3.00pm so to fit in the Formula One qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix later in the programme. 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. 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