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Talented Eric The Eel's comeback has been delayed and he will begin his spring campaign a week later.

Stakes performer Eric The Eel's comeback has suffered another minor setback forcing his scratching from a race at Doomben.

Trainer Stuart Kendrick had planned to use a race at Doomben on Wednesday as a launching pad for a possible Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby campaign.

However, he decided to scratch Eric The Eel from Doomben when he was unhappy with the results of a blood count.

"It is nothing serious but the blood count wasn't 100 per cent so there was no use risking him," Kendrick said.

"He can wait for another week and possibly start in a benchmark race over 1350 metres at Doomben on Saturday week."

Eric The Eel showed he was up to top class in the winter when an unlucky fifth in the Group One J J Atkins (1600m).

The gelding was most impressive with a second in a Sunshine Coast barrier trial last month.

But his racing return has been twice delayed with minor problems.