Seasonal Tip The most interesting two-year-old in the Free Handicap
isn't mentioned in it. And, of course, it is Irish-trained. J. M. Rogers thinks Santa
, Claus is the best horse he has trained since Hard Ridden, which won the Epsom Derby in , 1958, and Paddy Prendergast has called him the fastest two-year-old in Europe.' The evi- dence is convincing. Santa Claus murdered Meso-
potamia by eight lengths at the Curragh in the National Stakes, and Mesopotamia had won the Chesham Stakes at Ascot by ten lengths. At the Curragh Santa Claus was giving Mesopotamia 3 lb. Yet the official handicapper now places Mesopotamia, with 9 st. 2 lb., as top filly in the Free Handicap. Where does that put Santa Claus, even if he hasn't enough English form to be listed? It makes him, at six to one, the hottest winter favourite to win the Derby since Dante. And Dante did win the Derby. But I'm not tipping Santa Claus yet. I tipped Leicester City to win the Cup last year, and they only came second.
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