The overall numbers tell a more measured story. In the last twelve months McConnell has sent out 568 runners and won with 36 of them — roughly 1 in every 16, a 6% win rate that sits modestly by the standards of the yard's top-level ambitions. But volume and quality are different conversations, and 261 career winners in four years represents a serious operation that keeps horses busy and competitive across the board.
The key partnership in the yard is with jockey Alex Harvey. Across 145 rides together they have combined for 15 wins — that is roughly 1 in every 10, a 10% win rate that meaningfully outperforms the yard's overall average. When McConnell and Harvey team up, something tends to click. Ground conditions matter too: on normal going McConnell's runners win at 12%, claiming 19 victories from 155 races. That is twice the yard's current seasonal rate, suggesting the horses are built for decent ground and perform best when conditions are straightforward rather than testing.
One relationship that has not clicked yet is with a horse called Amina — four races together and no wins to show for it. In a yard generating results at this pace, that particular combination remains unfinished business.
What makes McConnell genuinely interesting is the speed of the rise. Seven top-level wins before a fifth season is done suggests a trainer with an eye for placing horses well and the confidence to take them to the biggest venues. The win rate this season may look modest on paper, but the quality sprinkled through those 568 runners tells you exactly what kind of yard this is becoming.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk | 115 | 3 | 2.6% |
| Navan | 41 | 1 | 2.4% |
| Bellewstown | 36 | 4 | 11.1% |
| Downpatrick | 30 | 5 | 16.7% |
| Fairyhouse | 22 | 0 | 0% |
| Leopardstown | 21 | 0 | 0% |
| Cheltenham | 20 | 0 | 0% |
| Down Royal | 19 | 1 | 5.3% |
| Wexford | 19 | 1 | 5.3% |
| Punchestown | 17 | 0 | 0% |
| Galway | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
| Naas | 15 | 0 | 0% |
| Sligo | 13 | 3 | 23.1% |
| Kilbeggan | 13 | 1 | 7.7% |
| Gowran Park | 12 | 0 | 0% |
| Tramore | 11 | 3 | 27.3% |
| Listowel | 11 | 2 | 18.2% |
| Clonmel | 11 | 1 | 9.1% |
| Ayr | 10 | 1 | 10% |
| Roscommon | 10 | 1 | 10% |
| Musselburgh | 10 | 0 | 0% |
| Limerick | 9 | 1 | 11.1% |
| Wolverhampton | 8 | 1 | 12.5% |
| The Curragh | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Kelso | 7 | 2 | 28.6% |
| Cork | 7 | 1 | 14.3% |
| Thurles | 7 | 0 | 0% |
| Tipperary | 7 | 0 | 0% |
| Killarney | 6 | 1 | 16.7% |
| Ballinrobe | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Perth | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Haydock Park | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Hexham | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Newbury | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Sedgefield | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Newcastle | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Laytown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Aintree | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Newmarket | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Ascot | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Uttoxeter | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Market Rasen | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Cartmel | 1 | 0 | 0% |