THERE WAS a touch of deja vu at Hereford Racecourse last week as Eastnor trainer Matt Sheppard teamed up with his jockey son Stan Sheppard to win the feature Handicap Chase with Moodofthemoment.
Jus a few days on from winning a race he sponsored to advertise his new book, Sheppard struck with Moodofthemoment who scored in a driving finish under the trainer’s son Stan to score by half a length from the Sam Twiston-Davies-ridden 5-4 favourite Superbolt in the feature two mile five furlong handicap chase.
The seven-year-old had been beaten a neck on both his second and third starts for Sheppard before getting off the mark under rules over course and distance last month.
Speaking after the race Shepherd said: “It was probably a career-best performance from him, Stan is very strong from the last to the line – there aren’t many people who beat Sam Twiston-Davies.
“We picked him up for £5,500 and that’s my baseline sort of market. I’ve only got about 12 in, so to have had five winners this season is pretty good.”
Sheppard also gave an update on his autobiographical book, Confessions of a Slow Two-Miler. He added: “I’ve got another 500 coming on Friday. I’m just trying to sell as many as I can up until Christmas.”
Another local trainer celebrating at the course was Hoarwithy trainer Tom Symonds who scored with his new purchase Greenways in the two miles five and a half furlong handicap hurdle in the hands of stable Ben Poste.
Supported in the betting market all morning, Greenways was confidently ridden by Poste, challenging over the final two hurdles and quickening up well to score by three lengths from the Kerry Lee trained New Found Friend.
There was a French challenger in the two miles fillies’ juvenile hurdle when Midnight Exit , also the first mount of the season in Britain for dual Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Michael O’Sullivan as well as his first trip to Hereford, and the pair justified 5-4 favouritism for joint-trainers Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm scoring by one and three quarter lengths.
Racing at Hereford returns next week with the Richard Layton Charity Raceday which takes place on Wednesday, November 27, with the first race at 12.15pm.
