Rough Quest (10 May 1986 – 19 October 2016[2]) was a Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1996 Grand National at Aintree.

Rough Quest
SireCrash Course
GrandsireBusted
DamOur Quest
DamsirePrivate Walk
SexGelding
Foaled10 May 1986[1]
CountryBay
ColourUnited Kingdom
BreederMichael Healy
TrainerTerry Casey
Record38: 8-11-4
Earnings£354,432
Honours
National Hunt Handicap Chase (1995)
Castlemartin Stud Handicap Chase (1995)
Racing Post Chase (1996)
Grand National (1996)

Background

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Rough Quest was a bay horse bred in England by Michael Healy. He was sired by Crash Course who won the Doncaster Cup and became a successful National Hunt stallion: his other progeny included Jodami, Esha Ness and Maid of Money (Irish Grand National).[3] During his racing career he was trained by Terry Casey.

Racing career

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The horse went to Aintree in 1996 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 favourite at the off. Mick Fitzgerald took the ride to be the first favourite to win the race for fourteen years. However the race was most notable for a prolonged stewards' enquiry into the possibility that the winner had crossed the runner up Encore Un Peu on the run in. After the enquiry, the result was allowed to stand.

Rough Quest never fully recovered from his efforts and was found to have a muscle enzyme disorder, winning just one more race in his career, a hunter chase at Newbury in 1999 before being retired later that year.[4]

Grand National record

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Grand National Position Jockey Age Weight SP Distance
1996 1st Mick Fitzgerald 10 10-7 7/1 F Won by 1¼ lengths
1998 Pulled up before two out Mick Fitzgerald 12 11-4 11-1 N/A

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Rough Quest (IRE), bay gelding, 1986[1]
Sire
Crash Course (GB)
1971
Busted (GB)
1963 
Crepello Donatello
Crepuscule
Sans le Sou Vimy
Martial Loan
Lucky Stream (GB)
1956 
Persian Gulf Bahram
Double Life
Kypris Victrix
Phinoola
Dam
Our Quest (GB)
1980
Private Walko (GB)
1967
Pall Mall Palestine
Malapert
La Brigantine Astrophel
Diaconesse
Corda (GB) (GB)
1972
Current Coin Hook Money
Frances
Lama Arctic Storm
Goggles (Family: 11-a)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rough Quest pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ ‘He was part of the family’: Grand National hero dies aged 30
  3. ^ "Crash Course Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Rough Quest 1996 Grand National". Grand-national.me.uk. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2016.