A good barrier and a drop back to midweek grade are the ingredients John Sadler is looking for to get Henwood back into winning form at Sandown.

Bad barriers have thwarted Henwood in recent starts but a middle draw in the 1400m benchmark 90 on Wednesday has Sadler convinced the gelding can get the job done.

Henwood last tasted success at Caulfield in August last year, racing again on another three occasions before a break.

He returned to racing in April and Wednesday's outing will be his seventh for the campaign.

Apart from a third placing behind stablemate Charmed Harmony at Caulfield two starts back, where he drew the inside gate, barriers have been against the seven-year-old this campaign.

More often than not the gelding has drawn off the track and been forced to either go back or press forward leaving him a sitting shot for the opposition.

On Wednesday Henwood has drawn barrier six in the 12 horse field which Sadler said looks ideal.

"The middle of the line-up is good," Sadler said.

"He'll probably be able to roll forward or sit just off the pace.

"He's won there before so the track's not a problem and the little bit of give is in his favour also."

Henwood was down to run at Flemington on Saturday in the race won by Charmed Harmony, one of two winners for the trainer's apprentice son Tom Sadler, who will again ride the gelding on Wednesday.

The 2kg claim of young Sadler brings Henwood in with 58kg.

"I thought he'd be stretched to beat his stablemate last Saturday, hence we took him out," John Sadler said.

"But I think this looks a nice race.

"Tom's riding well with his double last Saturday and hopefully he can punch another one home on this horse."