FINDING a viable alternative to hot-pot Pricket in today's £200,000-added Epsom Oaks is not as difficult a task as first seemed likely. Pricket boasts an impressive unbeaten record, is handled and owned by the Godolphin winner machine, is ridden by effervescent champion jockey Frankie Dettori, who is bidding for a hat-trick in the race, and has been many professionals' idea of the season's banker for months.
However, at odds of 5 to 4 punters will be on the look-out for an alternative and at 10-1 or so, Honest Guest represents the best each-way value of the day.
Mark Tompkins's filly has plenty in her favour, she finished a thoroughly creditable sixth in the 1,000 Guineas just 40 minutes after Pricket had romped home in the Pretty Polly Stakes.
It is difficult to knock either piece of form they were both run in a reasonable time and the value has been franked since by the runs of the placed horses in both races. But, while the Pretty Polly third Magnificent Style won the Musidora, the second, fourth, fifth and sixth have all been beaten since, which has to raise a slight doubt about the value of the form.
Conversely, the Guineas form has been franked in some style since. The second, Matiya, won the Irish 1,000 Guineas with My Branch, fourth at Newmarket, in third place.
That gives a big boost to the Oaks chances of Honest Guest, who has every chance of improving over this half-mile further trip.
