Premier trainer Barry Baldwin is hopeful rather than confident his promising sprinter Nericon King will return from a bleeding attack in peak form at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day.Nericon King hasn't started since he finished last behind talented Sydney galloper El Cambio at the Gold Coast on May 3 and Baldwin has been content not to trial the horse in preparation for his return.Stewards slapped the mandatory three-month ban on Nericon King after he bleed and Baldwin has given the lightly-raced four-

Premier trainer Barry Baldwin is hopeful rather than confident his promising sprinter Nericon King will return from a bleeding attack in peak form at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day.

Nericon King hasn't started since he finished last behind talented Sydney galloper El Cambio at the Gold Coast on May 3 and Baldwin has been content not to trial the horse in preparation for his return.

Stewards slapped the mandatory three-month ban on Nericon King after he bleed and Baldwin has given the lightly-raced four-year-old plenty of time to recover from an attack he described as 'serious'.

"He did have quite a bad bleed, and you're always cautious after something like that," Baldwin said.

"He's a pretty smart horse and he's going along quite nicely but you always have that slight worry in the back of your mind after they've bled."

Baldwin said Nericon King was cleared to race again after he galloped over 1000 metres to stewards' satisfaction earlier this month.

"He's been in work for a long time, he's been back in the stable for about 16 weeks and I'm very happy with him. He didn't need to trial and I was happy to gallop him instead," Baldwin said.

Nericon King emerged as one of Queensland's finest prospects before his enforced break and the benefit of hindsight has confirmed his formline as a serious racehorse.

Two runs ago on April 12 he extended his record to three wins from four starts when he scored a convincing win over subsequent Villiers Stakes runner-up Hey Elvis in an open three-year-old handicap over 1200 metres at Doomben.

Before that the Mr Henrysee gelding won at Doomben and the Gold Coast after finishing runner-up behind talented mare Desdemona in an Eagle Farm maiden at his first career start.

In-form Brisbane jockey Danny Craven will partner Nericon King in his return to racing and Baldwin said the future was a step-at-a-time process.

"He's a good horse but has a few classes to get through yet. I'll see how he goes and start him wherever I can place him in a race that will suit him best," Baldwin said.