HOW THEY ARE RATED

Ranking of the two-year-olds by the official handicapper to the English jockey Club, in what is called the Free Handicap, is always interesting, because it is an indication and even an estimate, of the prospects of the cracks in the next season's racing.

As was to be expected, Orwell, better known as the Golden Hair colt, is at the head of the list, made public in December last, but lie is not without a challenger for supremacy. Indeed, this is the surprise of the handicap. Mannamead shares with Orwell the honour of carrying

The placing of the two horses on the same mark shows the strong hand that the Manton stable should play in (his year's classics. Joseph Law'son. the trainer, will not have it that Orwell will not stay the Derby course. He has, in fact, great faith in Mr. Singer's champion. But high value must be placed on the stamina of Lord Astor's Mannamead, who won his three races in most impressive fashion.

Such, too, is the encouraging record of Lord Woolavington's Cockpen, who is given 21b from the top markers. It is possible that he would require more generous treatment to hold his own, but he has not been put to a complete test. After Goodwood he was a victim to the epidemic of coughing that ran through the Beckhampton stable, and he was not able to run again.

Clustine is allowed 51b, and he is undoubtedly a smart colt. This was shown by the manner in which he disposed of his rivals in two races last summer, but the opposition on.those occasions was not very formidable.

With an advantage of 81b Miracle has probably not been given too much weight He was a facile winner of the Gimcrack tor Lord Kosebery, who thinks that he is a good horse, and that he is one of those who is likely to come on. It was for this reason that he was put away for the winter immediately after his 'success. _ The fillies seem a moderate lot. Gela is nidged the best of the bunch, and she has as much as a stone less than the colts at the top.