'He's a top-class rider' - Oisin Murphy to replace suspended Frankie Dettori aboard Chaldean in Prix Jean Prat

Chaldean will spearhead a Juddmonte assault on France's Group 1s this weekend, with Oisin Murphy replacing the suspended Frankie Dettori in Sunday's Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat.

While 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean seeks a second top-level success of the season at Deauville, Westover is set to carry the famous Abdullah family silks in Saturday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, a race picked out for connections by jockey Ryan Moore.

Dettori is sidelined this weekend, having received a nine-day ban for careless riding at Royal Ascot last month. The suspension has also ruled the rider out of partnering Emily Upjohn in the Coral-Eclipse, with William Buick taking over in the saddle.

Sunday's race will be the first time Murphy has ridden Chaldean in a race, with David Probert and Ryan Moore having previously done so before Dettori took over in last year's Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, a contest Chaldean won before landing the Dewhurst Stakes.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte, owner of Chaldean, said on Tuesday: "Once Frankie was unavailable it was a relatively straightforward decision about who was going to ride. Oisin is Andrew [Balding's] first jockey and he's a top-class rider, so we're lucky to have him on board.

"Oisin knows the horse and has ridden him at home before, both last year and this year. Frankie had a spin on him before the Guineas, but otherwise I know Oisin has done a lot.

"Oisin will have another sit on him tomorrow, and provided he's happy with how the horse is then it's all systems go to run at the weekend."

Chaldean: won the 2,000 Guineas under Frankie Dettori in MayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Having recovered from unseating Dettori on his comeback run in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury to land the 2,000 Guineas over a mile, Chaldean was sent off favourite to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, having led the mile Group 1, Chaldean was run down in the closing stages by Paddington to finish second, beaten three and three-quarter lengths.

The performance has prompted Chaldean's connections to drop him in trip to 7f for the Prix Jean Prat, and Mahon said: "He has a lot of speed, as he showed last year. Frankie's first words to us at Ascot were that this horse has lots and lots of speed and there were some suggestions immediately after the race we might have a go at the July Cup.

"I think he's versatile and hopefully the trip won't prove to be any inconvenience to him. At Newmarket he looked like he would go further than a mile, but the way the race was run at Ascot made a drop in trip look the best option for him. The trip is always one of the biggest imponderables with a horse, and we'll find out more on Sunday."

Westover (left) finished second to Emily Upjohn in last month's Coronation CupCredit: Warren Little

Before Chaldean lines up at Deauville, Westover will be sent in search of a second Group 1 victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, with Rob Hornby retaining the ride on the four-year-old.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, Westover finished second to Emily Upjohn in last month's Coronation Cup, having also finished second to Japanese superstar Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Mahon said: "Westover is going to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and he's in good form. It looks a nice race for him and Ryan Moore said after riding in the Dubai Sheema Classic that this would be a race that would suit him.

"It's a nice interval after the race at Epsom and he's going to be joined in the race by Malabu Drive, who has recently joined Ralph. He's a decent horse in his own right, but his job will be to ensure a good pace.

"It's not that Westover is keen. It's more that he's a big, long-striding horse who likes to get into a rhythm where he can use that stride. If you look at the Coronation Cup, it was messy as they went quick then slowed it up before sprinting down the hill and that was never going to suit him."

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