The Grand National, won by Patrick Mullins on Nick Rockett last year, is a “softer” version to when Mick Fitzgerald won on Rough Quest in 1996. (Photo: AFP)The Grand National is a radically different challenge than it was when Mick Fitzgerald rode Rough Quest to victory in 1996, but he told AFP you have “to evolve or you die”. The National, raced over four miles and with its 30 daunting fences, is a race that transcends horse racing, attracting once-a-year punters and a large global television audience. “I am not going to dress it up as still being the greatest race. “If someone who knows little about racing asks you what you do for a living and you reply ‘jockey’, they will ask you not about did you win a Gold Cup or a Derby but the Grand National,” he said.

Source: Bangkok Post April 09, 2026 04:06 UTC