The 1996 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 149th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree on 30 March 1996.It was the first national to run since 3 time winner Red Rum was buried at the winning post following his death the previous October. The race was won in a time of nine minutes and 0.8 seconds and by a distance of 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. Leading contenders Rough Quest was sent off as 7/1 favourite having won the Racing Post Chase 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 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