Lets Hope So
Horse in the spotlight
Here's one to watch this summer - a newcomer to the Marlborough area:
Trainer Emma Lavelle has moved from her Hampshire stables to the Bonita Stables at Ogbourne Maizey. Most of her horses are out to grass for their summer break.
By the time they're back, the new stable blocks will be finished and it will no longer be a case of "It looks like a building site!"
Twenty-five of the carefully reconditioned boxes are already in use. One is occupied by the six year-old bay mare Lets Hope So who has a summer campaign ahead of her.
She is owned by the Cottage Stables Racing Club.
Whereas the famous and now retired hurdler Big Buck's sported an infuriatingly unnecessary apostrophe, Lets Hope So seems to be a sub-editor's nightmare with her dropped apostrophe. Let's hope she puts any nightmares behind her.
She has had three outings - winning one and coming second in another. Then at Southwell on May 18 she ran in the Connolly's Red Mills Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices Hurdle - just under the two miles, with Daryl Jacob aboard and the going 'Good (good to soft in places)'.
The race comments read: "Tracked leaders, headway to dispute second - every chance when fell two out." Or in Emma Lavelle's words, when strong for a victory "She tipped her jockey off." Leaving the Alan King favourite Avispa to win.
But there's a summer ahead for her...keep watching.