Imperial Shabra cheer for heart attack victim Brady

Imperial Shabra received the loudest cheer of the afternoon at Stratford after claiming the Alice’s Noodle Bar Novices’ Handicap Chase – but the decibel level would have been considerably higher had Oliver Brady been present.

Brady, who is based in County Monaghan, is known for his raucous celebrations and his fellow countrymen stopping off in Warwickshire to warm up for Cheltenham Festival week had to compensate for the fact the trainer is still recovering at home from a heart attack.

Imperial Shabra (3-1), out of his depth on many occasions this season including against Sizing Europe at Punchestown, still had plenty of his plate at a far less illustrious level with jockey Gerry Fox working hard just to keep him to the fore.