Itchy Feet heading for Faugheen clash in Marsh after being taken out of Arkle

All roads lead to the Marsh Novices' Chase for Itchy Feet after Olly Murphy's star was taken out of the Racing Post Arkle as the acceptors for the Cheltenham Festival novice events were revealed on Wednesday.

Itchy Feet, a best-priced 11-2 favourite for the Marsh Chase, has won both his starts over fences to date – including the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown – and Murphy is so confident the Marsh will be ideal for the six-year-old he has removed all other options.

The trainer said: “We've stepped him up in trip now over fences and it looks to have worked the oracle, so the Marsh is where he’s going to go. He won on very slow ground at Sandown so if the rain came it wouldn’t bother me. He’s got form on good ground as well so 2m4f will be just right for him.

“I’d like to think I might have a festival winner before him, but he’s one of my best darts to throw at the board throughout the week. He’s in good form and I hope he’s still improving, I wouldn’t swap him.”

The National Hunt Chase picture is slightly clearer after Marsh entry Faugheen was scratched from the contest along with other fancied runners Danny Whizzbang, Truckers Lodge, Allaho and Speak Easy.

Carefully Selected and Champagne Classic head the market for the 3m6f contest, with Copperhead, Battleoverdoyen and Two For Gold also prominent in the betting.

Unbeaten novice Envoi Allen still holds entries in both the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The six-year-old is the 5-4 favourite for the Ballymore, while Shishkin heads the Supreme market at 11-4.

Goshen and Allmankind are set to lock horns for the first time in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, while Notebook remains the 3-1 favourite for the Arkle.

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