Confessions Of A Slow Two-Miler: can veteran trainer and published author win his own race at Hereford?

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The fashion in book publishing these days, and in working life generally, is to start every project at a million miles an hour, hammer through it in the shortest time possible and move swiftly on to the next thing.

It seems an unlikely way to produce great literature, so how cheering to hear that trainer Matt Sheppard has taken the opposite approach with his memoirs, due to be published today.

Sheppard tells the Front Runner that he started scribbling down thoughts, anecdotes and apercus during lockdown, which means the finished article reaches us after a gestation period of some four and a half years. Surely this by itself is proof that the thing will be worth reading.

Some will still fear that Sheppard has rushed it. Tolstoy, after all, took six years to get War And Peace down on paper, while J K Rowling spent as long crafting Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. Sheppard's book may not shift quite as many copies as Rowling's but he can certainly hope for a higher completion rate than Tolstoy.

"It's about my life as a bit-player in horse racing," Sheppard tells the Front Runner, speaking from his Eastnor yard near Ledbury. "Every single story is true - because you couldn't make it up.

"It's been in my head for a long time. I'm happy with it and some knowledgeable people have looked at it and told me to go ahead."

'Real Horse Racing and Other Revelations' was expected to be the title at one point but Sheppard has eventually opted for the rather more distinctive 'Confessions Of A Slow Two-Miler'. This is because two-mile chasing has been something of a speciality for him and he reckons the division accounts for a quarter of all his winners.

One-time Scottish Grand National hope Ikorodu Road (Matt Sheppard) surveys the scene at Eastnor Castle with stablemate Big Robert (Stan Sheppard)Credit: David Dew

Sheppard started out as unpaid pupil assistant to Mercy Rimell in 1986, which by itself seems like a rich source of potential material. He remembers being there at the same time as Gaye Brief, Celtic Chief, Golden Friend and Gala's Image.

"She was her own woman, she didn't tolerate fools," he recalls. "She was amazing and there was a lot of history about Kinnersley as well."

Before striking out on his own, Sheppard also spent three years with Arthur Moore, a period he recalls as "magical".

You might know Sheppard as trainer of that fabulous mare The Bay Birch, winner of nine races. Or perhaps your mind goes to Ikorodu Road, who pipped Junior in the Grimthorpe.

"Burning Truth was a favourite from the early days, when you had proper fast ground," he says, recalling a chestnut who was a regular winner at a modest level some 20-odd years ago.

These days, Sheppard is also well known as a sire, being the father of jockey Stan Sheppard, a Welsh National winner aboard Iwilldoit and first rider to Tom Lacey. "We're very proud of Stan," Sheppard Snr says. "He's a good rider, he's got a good reputation and he doesn't make many mistakes."

Sheppard's son Stan riding Iwilldoit clear the last to win the Classic Chase at Warwick last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst

As to the content of his book, Sheppard doesn't want to give too much away. "It's hopefully a book that non-racing people will find amusing. There's lots of racing stories in it but lots of lifestyle stories as well."

One of the key messages Sheppard wants to express is how much harder it is for small trainers to survive these days. "When I won my first race at Chepstow in 1995, it was about three grand to the winner and my percentage would have been about £280.

"In 1995, that was two weeks' wages for a member of staff. If you want to cover two weeks' wages for a member of staff now, you have to win a race worth about £8,000 to the winner. In midweek, there are very few races worth that much."

Sheppard expects to receive the first copies of his book this morning and will then celebrate its launch at Hereford races, where he hopes to sell a few copies. He has sponsored the final race – it is, of course, a 2m handicap chase – and runs Famoso, a general 6-1 shot.

The Front Runner suggests that everyone will imagine this is a plot he's been working on for months, which makes Sheppard laugh. "I'm expecting a big run but he's not particularly well handicapped. In fact, he's badly handicapped.

"He'll like the ground. I think we might be struggling to beat River Gold of James Owen's, who is probably ahead of the handicapper. Famoso won't let us down but I'll be surprised if he wins."

For anyone who's interested in the book but can't get to Hereford, Confessions Of A Slow Two-Miler is also for sale through the Weatherbys website.

Who Am I?

Today's clue:

"One of my best wins was in a 23-runner race where the start could not really have gone much worse. I was supposed to be handy but we had a false start, didn't we, so then there was a standing start and the horse hesitated as the tape went up. I'd lined up on the inside, so immediately I'm cut off, there's a wall of horses in front of me and we're shuffled towards midfield, trapped on the inside rail, the worst possible position to be in. For the first three furlongs, I was just swearing to myself. But he was the best in the race and the beauty of Cheltenham is that it identifies the best. Other horses had a better position but as the race evolved, mine was able to nip in and take their slot. The real good ones get you out of jail."

It's the start of a new week in our 'Who Am I?' quiz, based around a different racing personality each week. We'll give you a new clue every day, with the answer revealed on Friday.

Think you know who it is? Email frontrunner@racingpost.com to say who. I'll give a mention to everyone who gets it right.

Congratulations to Andy Hood, who was first to recognise last week's mystery personality as William Buick, a very successful rider at the Breeders' Cup.

Three things to look out for today

1. Switching from turf to dirt is tricky, as we've just been reminded by City Of Troy at Del Mar. What about switching from dirt to Polytrack? That's the change being attempted by Strobe, who lines up in a 7f handicap at Kempton. Now with the Crisfords, he was previously with Brad Cox in the US, where he raced exclusively on dirt, won at three tracks and was runner-up in a Grade 3 handicap at Oaklawn Park. His British rating might have a bit of leniency in it, judged against his very best form, but it's over a year since he last raced and one has to imagine this will be an exploratory first start. Still, the yard's in form. 

Strobe13:50 Kempton (A.W)

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Jky: Harry Davies Tnr: Simon & Ed Crisford

2.  With James Owen continuing in excellent form over jumps and on the Flat, his Evocative Spark has to be of interest in a sprint handicap at Wolverhampton. Previously with Darryll Holland, this five-year-old threw in a couple of weak efforts after switching yards but did much better at this track last time when beaten just a couple of lengths after running out of room at the home turn. Another wide draw makes things tricky but he's half a stone below his last winning mark and one has to think it's a matter of time before he scores again, and maybe not much time, at that. 

Evocative Spark15:55 Wolverhampton (A.W)

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Jky: Tom Eaves Tnr: James Owen

3. Five winners so far means this is already the best jumps season yet in the young career of Towcester-based Billy Aprahamian, a former assistant to Nicky Henderson who spoke to the Front Runner in December 2022. Four winners from 17 starters since August means his three runners today must be taken seriously and it's especially easy to like Good Lord, who went well for a long way on his chasing debut last month. He was entitled to need that first run since February and better can be expected in the 2m handicap chase that closes Hereford's card - the race sponsored by Matt Sheppard (see main article, above). 

Good Lord16:20 Hereford

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Jky: Gavin Sheehan Tnr: Billy Aprahamian

Read these next:

What's on this week: Cheltenham Festival winners return plus Grand National fences back in action in the Grand Sefton 

'He's right up there with the best' - Dan Skelton identifies Grade 1 target for exciting novice hurdler 

2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington: the runners, the odds, the verdict 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, the reigning Racing Writer of the Year, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content.