Top American rider Chris McCarron has been named as the replacement for Frankie Dettori on Godolphin's leading hopes at Epsom this weekend.

The news was disclosed yesterday on the Dubai operation's official website.

McCarron will partner Melikah in the Oaks and Fantastic Light in the Coronation Cup, both run on Friday, and Best Of The Bests in the Derby the following day.

The 45-year-old jockey has already had experience of riding at Epsom, having partnered Bold Arrangement in the 1986 Derby for trainer Clive Brittain.

Frankie Dettori is expected to leave hospital today, five days after sustaining a broken ankle in a light aircraft crash.

The jockey's agent, Peter Burrell, said the rider was making good progress.

Godolphin's Diktat finished second to Hong Kong's Fairy King Prawn in the Grade One Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo yesterday.

Stepping up on his sixth place in Keio Hai Spring Cup at the same venue last month, Diktat, partnered by Daragh O' Donoghue was beaten a length and a quarter on his first run over a mile.

The five-year-old pipped King Halo for second place by a neck, with Stinger, the Keio Hai Spring Cup winner, back in fourth.

Fusaichi Pegasus will be unable to redeem himself in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday after meeting with a setback. A small cut to the side of his off-fore hoof has ruled the Kentucky Derby winner out of the third and final leg of the American Triple Crown. The race will also be without Red Bullet, who inflicted a shock defeat on Fusaichi Pegasus in the Preakness Stakes.

Trainer Neil Drysdale said: "At 2 o'clock on Saturday the horse was startled by a noise in his box. He rushed to the front of the stall, slipped and caught his rightfront hoof on the door.

"He gouged a small piece the size of a dime out of the side of his hoof. He is not sore, there is no soreness. "But he couldn't work today and we want to preclude further injury."