CONSIDERING how memorable the 2022/’23 National Hunt season was for John McConnell, it’s hardly any surprise that a sizeable crowd descended on his Rockview Stables base in Stamullen, Co Meath, for his recent Horse Racing Ireland trainer open morning.

It was only last March that the upwardly-mobile handler recorded a breakthrough Cheltenham Festival success with Seddon in the Magners Plate, followed by a valuable handicap hurdle win at the Aintree Festival with Fennor Cross and a Punchestown Festival double.

All told, his domestic prize money over jumps exceeded €500,000 last term and his National Hunt runners in Britain collected roughly £300,000. The feel-good factor of a fine season rolled into an enjoyable morning for those visiting McConnell’s training operation.

“We had a great crowd down to visit us,” said McConnell.

“The weather stayed good for us and thankfully everything seemed to go nice and smooth. I was delighted that we got good feedback from those who came through the doors.

“It’s nice to give people a different perspective on a racing yard and for them to get to know our team a bit better than before.

Behind the scenes

“We organised a few different demonstrations for the day. There was a chance for people to see our physio at work and the demonstration from our farrier also seemed to go down well. We had a bit of schooling for people to watch too and Siobhan [Rutledge] gave a riding demonstration on the racehorse simulator. We introduced everyone on the team and hopefully anyone who came had a nice time all-round.”

McConnell says he has felt a positive response to the event while racing in the weeks that have followed his open morning. Plenty of his most prominent winners last season came with syndicate-owned horses and this event may lead to him expanding his existing base of owners.

“I’ve actually met people at the races since who came to the open morning but didn’t speak with me on the day, and they have been very good in complimenting the whole team on their efforts,” said McConnell.

“If bringing people in to see the operation up close puts the thought in their mind to someday get involved in some form of ownership that’s obviously a positive too.”