McConnell celebrates his Curragh move with winner

JOHN McCONNELL, who moved from his Monaghan base to the Curragh last week, was on the mark at Cork yesterday when Coolnaharan landed the Alchemy Properties Handicap Hurdle.

Partnered by 19-year-old Shane Hassett, Coolnaharan got a smashing run up the inside after the last to collar the flattering Charming Hymn.

McConnell has held a licence for three years and this was his seventh winner. He said: “I’ve moved down to the Curragh to give the training a good go. “I have 14 horses in at the moment, but that will increase to 25 next month. This horse is a brilliant jumper and is going to make a chaser.