The opening 2011 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle at Navan today went to the Colin McBratney trained Sydney Des Pictons providing jockey Eddie O’Connell with his 21st winner of the season.

Afterwards McBratney stated “we were held up badly with the frozen spell and Sydney Des Pictons needed his run the last day and his rider Mark O’Hare said the ground wasn’t soft enough for him.”

He added “we’ll aim him at a winners’ of one or novice hurdle next but he needs soft ground and we’ll keep him going as long as the ground doesn’t quicken up. He’ll go chasing in a year but we’ll push him as far as we can over hurdles first.”

Thomas Weekes