Hemingway can reverse recent form with Wick Powell to land the 32Red Casino Handicap at Newcastle this afternoon.
Kevin Ryan’s three-year-old has seen only limited action to date but with just four runs under his belt so far, there could be any amount of improvement still to come.
His juvenile campaign last year was a mixed bag, with a narrow Pontefract victory bookended by two defeats at York, although the latter eclipse came in what is one of the most competitive sales events of the year.
Given a break following that defeat, Hemingway returned to action at Gosforth Park earlier this month when beaten three-and-three-quarter lengths by Wick Powell when in receipt of 5lb.
The winner was far too well treated for Hemingway to land a meaningful blow but given that was his first outing in 204 days, it would not be unreasonable to expect him to have come forward since then.
Hemingway will be getting 15lb this time, which puts him in a very attractive position indeed, even allowing for a bit more to come from Wick Powell.
Good Run shaped with promise when winning at Newcastle back in November and despite a bit of a break in the interim, he is still the pick for the Betway Stayers’ Handicap.
Twice a winner in 2015, Good Run was beaten out of sight by Imperial Aviator in his only turf start last May and was then off the track until that Newcastle run.
Gelded in the interim, he looked a different animal as he overcame a less-than-perfect passage to win in style.
Artscape should find a starting mark of 75 well within his compass in the 32Red.com Handicap at Kempton.
Quite a keen-going sort, he could be even better if he can learn to settle.
Clan Legend should appreciate the slightly better ground in the Howdens Joinery Chase at Haydock.
The seven-year-old has won two of his four outings over fences this winter, facing heavy conditions on each occasion.
While he has more than held his own, Clan Legend has certainly shaped as though a better surface might bring about some improvement, most notably so when just hanging on for the win at Kelso earlier this month.
A 2lb rise for that verdict is not too harsh, particularly as the slightly quicker ground here might help offset that a bit.
The Nipper is a mare on the up and she can strike again in the Howdens Joinery Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
She won as she pleased at Newcastle recently, supplementing a previous win at Lingfield, and even 12lb of penalties may not be enough to stop her.
Nap: Hemingway
(4.30: Newcastle)
Double: Good Run
(3.30: Newcastle)
Treble: Artscape
(7.45 Kempton)
Yankee: Clan Legend
(3.10: Haydock)
