Last year's Champion Apprentice Jason Watson is back on track today at Lingfield after being out of the racing sphere for around two and a half months after sustaining a near career ending injury.
The 18 year old hd not long been given the role as number one jockey for experienced trainer Roger Charlton, moving over from Andrew Balding yard where he learnt his trade, before he took a nasty fall on January 4th at Kempton.
He was riding Teresita Alavarez for trainer Jeremy Noseda when the filly clipped heels with another horse in the race right at the start of the mile handicap contest and saw Watson fall heavily to the floor sustaining two hairline neck fractures.
This saw the youngster out for around 10 weeks but now he is over the moon to be back amongst the daily routine of a racing life.
Last year he went on to land 111 winners in 2018 and will looking to go better than that this year and challenge the big boys at the top of the senior jockey championships.
He has been back riding at the Charlton yard for about three weeks trying to get back in the swing of things and be ready for the start of the season but ahead of schedule he is back on Friday at Lingfield.
The Brighton born lad has just the two rides to start his 2019 campaign off with and in the first race of the day he has a great chance to get off the mark with the favourite and Amanda Perrett trained Azets.
He later rides After Hours for David Menuisier in the featured 1m4f handicap and it would be a great to see him get off the mark for the season.
The 18-year-old said: "My recovery has been good and I've had no hold ups. I've been to Oaksey House in Lambourn, which has been excellent, where I've had physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to get me back in shape.
"I was in the gym a week after my accident and have been riding out for Mr Charlton for the past three weeks."
He added: "My agent Tony Hind and myself have had this date in mind for my return for some time and I can't wait to get going.
"It wasn't ideal to be out as I have been, but it's a great time to be back with the Flat season just around the corner."