Cheka back with a bang

Eve Johnson Houghton's stable star The Cheka made a winning return to competitive action in the Shadwell "Nunnery Stud" Conditions Stakes at Newbury.The trainer came close to withdrawing her charge (9-2) after his near-year-long absence, but he overcame a lack of conditioning to sweep down the outside and beat Ashram by a neck. Johnson Houghton said: "Three hundred and twenty-one days is a long time off. I knew he would need the race and is having a good blow. I do love him as he is a serious horse and he will come on a lot."She added: "He only ever does enough and it is hard to get him fit enough. "If he progresses I would love to run him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - you have got to have an ambition!"