JASON Watson is expected to be out of action for around to six to eight weeks following his fall at Kempton on Friday.

Last season’s champion apprentice was partnering the Jeremy Noseda-trained Teresita Alvarez at the Sunbury circuit when his mount clipped heels and stumbled badly in the very early stages of the one-mile contest.

Watson was thrown to the ground and although initially seen kneeling up, he had to be stretched off the course, before being taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting for further assessment.

His agent Tony Hind said on Saturday morning: “He has two very small hairline fractures of a vertebra in his neck.

“He was discharged at 9.30 last night. He will be out for six to eight weeks, but he’ll be fine.”

Watson enjoyed a year to remember in 2018, hitting the headlines in the summer when winning the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood for Hugo Palmer aboard Gifted Master.

The teenager also bagged Group 1 honours for the retiring Luca Cumani through God Given in Italy and was appointed number one rider to leading trainer Roger Charlton for the 2019 campaign.