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.

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

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.

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.

[10] Other well-fancied runners included 1995 Agfa Diamond Chase winner Deep Bramble[11] 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;[12] 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;[13] 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.

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.

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.

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."