Meet the Rising Stars: Ireland's New Wave of National Hunt Trainers Everyone is familiar with Ireland's powerhouse National Hunt trainers, the likes of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead, who have consistently dominated the jumps game over recent years. Their success has challenged others to raise standards in attempts to keep up or even compete. The magic of seeing Mullins et al dominating at the major festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree has also encouraged new names to join the ranks of the Irish trainers. John McConnell Based in the village of Stamullen, County Meath, John McConnell is attempting to punch his way into the big leagues and regularly targets races in England to raise his profile. McConnell took out his license in 2021 and already has a Cheltenham Festival winner on the board alongside a Group-race winner on the Flat. McConnell is a qualified vet, which is certainly a handy string to his bow in his current line of business. His first Cheltenham Festival winner came via Seddon in the 2023 Magners Plate Handicap Chase. Galway Festival winner Intense Approach could be one to watch out for in the coming months for the McConnell team, with the early season races at Cheltenham possible targets. Cian Collins Not far from McConnell is Cian Collins at his base in Robinstown Stables near Navan in County Meath. Collins has racing in his blood, with his uncle breeding horses and his father owning a couple. His early ambitions were to become a jockey but injury ended that dream. He spent a year under the guidance of Dessie Hughes and then worked at Cullentra for Gordon Elliott for six years before taking out his own licence in 2022. The mare Effernock Fizz thrived under his care, while Jazzy Matty was a hugely emotional winner of the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival last March, providing Collins with his first success at the Cotswolds showpiece. Ian Patrick Donoghue Ian Donoghue is perhaps best known as the older brother of top rider Keith Donoghue. A former pony rider and point-to-point pilot, Ian Donoghue worked for Gavin Cromwell and he started to pre-train and break and source horses. As demand for his services grew, he decided that he would do the trainers' course and take out a licence. So far in 2025, he has managed to send out 10 winners and get 20 more placed from 120 starters, a placed strike-rate of 25%. He doesn't have any stars on his hands just yet, his wins largely coming at provincial tracks like Downpatrick, Wexford, Bellewstown and Kilbeggan, but Donoghue is certainly keen to grow his operation and his eye for spotting a horse could pay off.
