McCoy hopes to be fit for the Festival, which starts on 11 March

McCoy stayed in hospital overnight to have a lower-back injury assessed after taking a tumble from Arnold Layne.

But the 12-times jockeys' title winner is still aiming to ride at Cheltenham (11-14 March) according to personal assistant Gee Bradburne.

"He's hoping to be back in time for the Festival and the doctors' prognosis is good," she said.

"He has a stable fracture of the T12 vertebra. But there is no neurological damage - he is moving everything fine," Bradburne added.

"They say he might be out for six weeks, but we really don't know at this stage."

The fact the doctors are quite optimistic about him making the festival is lifting him Gee Bradburne

McCoy, 33, fell at the 14th fence of the totesport Classic Chase at Warwick and was stretchered into an ambulance and taken to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry following the incident.

He is expected to ride Exotic Dancer in the Gold Cup in nine weeks time and Bradburne believes the thought of Cheltenham will spur on his recovery.

"He's in good spirits and the fact the doctors are quite optimistic about him making Festival is lifting him," she said.