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GOLDEN boy Oisin Murphy, clear in the race for the jockeys’ crown, was stood down yesterday after a failed breath test.
Murphy, who has a book of plum rides at Royal Ascot this week, was found to be over the alcohol threshold.
The 23-year-old missed his five booked rides at Salisbury, including two winners on Tribal Craft and Maygold.
He will resume today at Windsor and then has six booked rides at the Ascot tomorrow.
Murphy, whose profile has grown thanks to his natural ability in the saddle and also his role as retained rider for Qatar Racing, is the general 2-5 favourite to become champion jockey this season.
He began yesterday 10 winners clear of his main rival Silvestre de Sousa in the Stobart-backed title race, but was denied the chance to add to that lead.
De Sousa cut the gap to nine after riding Praxeology to victory. Murphy, whose biggest win came on Qatar Racing’s Roaring Lion in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last October, spent yesterday morning on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.
A British Horseracing Authority stewards’ report read: “The clerk of the scales reported that Oisin Murphy provided a sample which was found to contain alcohol above the threshold level for breath samples.
“The rider, the clerk of the scales and the sampling officer were interviewed.”
Steward Richard Westropp added: “Oisin was tested, as were all the jockeys riding here today.
“However he tested above the permitted level for alcohol and was therefore unable to take his book of rides. The matter has been forwarded to the BHA.”
Meanwhile, Channel dug deep to claim Classic glory in the French Oaks (Prix De Diane) at Chantilly yesterday.
Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Siyarafina was the red-hot favourite to maintain her unbeaten record, while British hopes were carried by Roger Varian’s Nausha and John Gosden’s Entitle – first and second in the Musidora.
In a race run at a modest pace, Nausha met traffic problems early on and pulled fiercely for her head for the remainder of the contest before fading out of contention.
Frankie Dettori rode a patient race aboard Entitle – who is a half-sister to the brilliant Enable – but she was never in a position to throw down a serious challenge.
Siyarafina was trapped wide for much of the 10-furlong journey and while she looked poised to throw down a serious challenge early in the home straight, she ultimately failed to pick up the leaders.
So it was Francis-Henri Graffard’s 9-1 shot Channel who emerged victorious under Pierre-Charles Boudot – just denying Commes in a thrilling finish.