JOCKEY Jason Maguire faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken ankle and a fractured shin bone in a fall at Worcester on Wednesday.

The Stroud-based rider was partnering the Donald McCain-trained Morning Sunshine in the two-mile novices’ handicap chase when the pair parted company at the final fence.

He was initially taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but was transferred to Royal Gloucester Hospital on Thursday morning, where he will be operated on in due course.

His agent Chris Broad said: “Jason’s in good spirits considering the circumstances. He’s broken his ankle in three places and also fractured his shin bone, so it’s a nasty one. He’ll obviously need an operation but they can’t operate at present as there is still a lot of swelling.”

He went on: “We didn’t even discuss how long he’s going to be out for as I don’t think it’s fair to do that until the operation has been done.

“Until we know that has been successful and we see what the specialist has to say afterwards, we won’t be putting a timescale on it.”

Maguire enjoyed the best season of his career so far last term when he rode 108 winners, including Peddlers Cross at the Cheltenham Festival.