ITCHY Feet provided Olly Murphy with a first Grade 1 winner in the Betway Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
Murphy, a former assistant to Gordon Elliott, has made giant strides in his fledgling career to date, but there is no doubting that a first win at the highest level is a landmark day.
Notable winners of the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase:
?? 2001 Best Mate
?? 2016 Bristol De Mai
?? 2017 Top Notch
?? 2019 Defi Du Seuil
?? 2020 Itchy Feet@O_J_murphy91 enjoys a first Grade One success as Itchy Feet takes the Scilly Isles @Sandownpark under Gavin Sheehan pic.twitter.com/F8hRRQ7cKH— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2020
Settled at the rear by Gavin Sheehan, Itchy Feet was always travelling well within himself despite racing slightly detached from the main bunch.
Good Boy Bobby, Grand Sancy and Midnight Shadow were all helping force the pace, but one who never got involved was Willie Mullins’ Laurina, with the Champion Hurdle fourth in the rear throughout.
Sheehan brought Itchy Feet through to challenge at the second last, but he met that one wrong and found himself back in fourth.
However, Sheehan let his mount find his stride again and soon after he was back on the bridle before jumping the last cleanly, coming away from Midnight Shadow to win by three and a half lengths.
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