The most intriguing thread in his record is the partnership with Imperial Fighter. Twelve races together and not a single win — that's the kind of stubborn losing run that tests the patience of any yard. It suggests a horse and situation that haven't quite clicked yet, whether that's finding the right conditions, the right trip, or simply waiting for things to fall into place.
Where McKenna does show a flicker of something more promising is on slightly soft ground. One win from four attempts in those conditions might sound modest, but that's a 25% win rate — one in every four — which stands out sharply against his overall figures. It hints that when the ground is in his favour, he knows how to place a horse to its best advantage.
His most reliable ally in the saddle is jockey Rory Mulligan, and together they've made the most of limited ammunition — 2 wins from 17 rides is a 12% win rate, or roughly 1 in 8, which is more than double McKenna's yard average. That's a combination worth watching when they team up again.
Small yards with modest numbers can take years to find their feet, and four years in is still early days in training terms. The raw numbers are lean right now, but the ground preference and the Mulligan partnership are two concrete reasons to keep an eye on McKenna as he looks to turn the corner.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk | 40 | 2 | 5% |
| Downpatrick | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| The Curragh | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Down Royal | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Fairyhouse | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Navan | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Sligo | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Leopardstown | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Naas | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Cork | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Kilbeggan | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Musselburgh | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Bellewstown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Southwell | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Clonmel | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Laytown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Tramore | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Wexford | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Galway | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Roscommon | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| York | 1 | 0 | 0% |