Mick Channon has welcomed back an old favourite to his yard in the shape of Muchea.
The six-year-old has returned to the West Ilsley trainer after a stint in Hong Kong and has been entered for the Worthington Lincoln at Doncaster on March 25th.
Muchea boasted some fine form in his first spell with Channon, winning the Group Two Moet & Chandon-Rennen at Baden-Baden as a juvenile and finishing placed in the Middle Park Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest.
"He's come back from David Hayes in Hong Kong and arrived just before Christmas," Channon said today. "I'm pleased to have him back - he's a grand little horse.
"He was very disappointing over there but it looks as if he's had problems, he's got a seedy toe and you can see where they've cut it away.
"He seems fine at the moment. Obviously we're only just starting with him and we'll just go quietly as it looks as if he's had a fair time off."
Channon will wait and see how Muchea is before deciding on a possible crack at the Lincoln.
"There is nothing definite planned but if you're not in you can't win. He won't be rated anything like 112, which he was when he left me.
"On his day he was a good horse but I don't know what happened out there, he's obviously had problems. Until we get cantering with him it wouldn't be fair to assess him."
The trainer has high hopes for a successful Flat season in 2000, his first from the West Ilsley yard formerly occupied by Major Dick Hern.
"We're up and running. People think Flat trainers do nothing at this time of year but there's an awful lot of work goes in.
"I'm pleased we've managed to keep some real nice three-year-olds.
"We've still got Rowaasi, Seazun, Ma Yoram, Hunting Lion and Areydha and as long as everything goes all right we should have a lot to look forward to."
