TOP chasing prospect Itchy Feet showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Scilly Isles at Sandown.
The improving youngster gave trainer Olly Murphy and owner Andrew Brooks a first Grade 1 win but Willie Mullins was left scratching his head as hot favourite Laurina flopped.
The winner, who returned a 7-1 chance, tip-toed into contention under Gavin Sheehan and surged clear after the last to beat Midnight Shadow by three and a half lengths.
Ladbrokes slashed his odds into 10-1 from 25 for the Marsh Chase at Cheltenham, and Murphy confirmed that would be the target next month.
He said: “I’m not an emotional person, but that meant a lot. I’ve always had faith in this lad.
“Andrew (Brooks, owner) was very keen to come here and he pays the bills and has supported me since day one.
“It has been a plan well executed and he got a masterclass of a ride from Gavin, who took his time in testing conditions.
“It was only his second run over fences, so it was a good performance. He is a horse that has got a big engine and he was third in a Supreme.
“He has never done anything wrong in his life, except when I ran him at Kempton and he was all wrong. We came home, made a plan and went jumping fences and it has been a well executed plan. It is magic and this is what you dream about.
“We will let the dust settle, but I’d imagine we will go to Cheltenham for the Marsh.
“Today is a dream come true. I’m 28 and I’ve trained a Grade 1 winner. It’s a special day.”
It was also a first Grade One win for Brooks, who added: “It is absolutely magical.
“I said I didn’t want to step him up in trip, but Olly said he had to step up and all credit to him.
“We were all saying before, he was third in the Supreme and came from behind. That was a hard race that day in thick mud and he stayed and today he stayed again. I think he could probably go further.
“There’s lots to look forward to and roll on Cheltenham now. It is an amazing experience with the whole family here. Kate (wife) wasn’t feeling great, but I said ‘you’ve got to come’.”
Earlier on the card, Quel Destin blew Call Me Lord’s Champion Hurdle prospects out of the water with a surprise win in the Contenders Hurdle.
The Paul Nicholls-trained runner looked vulnerbale as the odds-on favourite loomed alongside between the final two flights.
But he found plenty on the run-in to win going away, with Call Me Lord finishing legless in second.
