The most interesting thread running through her short career so far is what happens when the weather turns. On wet or muddy ground, Connell's yard has won 2 from 5 races — that is 40%, or 2 in every 5, which is a remarkable figure by any standard. Most trainers dream of that kind of conversion rate in any conditions; the fact that hers arrives specifically when the ground is testing suggests she either targets those days carefully or has a genuine knack for preparing horses that relish the mud. Either way, it is something worth watching.
Her standout horse to date is Catchabird, with whom she has built a record of 2 wins from 12 races together. That might not sound dramatic on paper, but a consistent partnership between trainer and horse over a dozen outings tells its own story — Connell clearly knows this horse well, and the wins they have managed together represent real results rather than luck. Her most regular jockey alliance is with Aidan Kelly, who has ridden for her 13 times and delivered 1 winner — roughly 1 in every 13 rides. That partnership is still finding its rhythm, and two years in, there is every reason to think the numbers will improve as the relationship develops.
Two years is genuinely nothing in racing. Trainers often spend a decade quietly building before they appear on anyone's radar. The fact that Connell is already winning at a rate of 1 in 6, with a particular edge in testing conditions, gives her a real identity this early — and that is rarer than it sounds.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Navan | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Fairyhouse | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Wexford | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Limerick | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Punchestown | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Naas | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Galway | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Killarney | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Cork | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Gowran Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Down Royal | 1 | 0 | 0% |