17:50 Newbury

Friday 18 September 2026

All13:4714:2214:5715:3216:0716:4017:1517:50

Fitzdares Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Div 2)

(2)

Sweet Reward¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Olivia Tubb⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 86| CD

12/1

Veteran scored twice on turf at Lingfield in May but below that form in a trio of runs subsequently, just eighth of 14 in handicap at Epsom (1½m, good) 18 days ago. This C&D scorer needs to bounce back.

Form: 211908

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(8)

Law Court¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 86

7/4

Gained a first success at Sandown (1m) in May. Twice runner-up since but he came in last of 6 in handicap at Ascot (1¼m, good to firm) 13 days ago. Weighted to go well if back on song.

Form: 212926

(4)

Interstate^b¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 83| D

9/4

Well-related Palace Pier colt. Runner-up 3 times running before readily landing the odds (in a change of headgear) in 4-runner novice at Newcastle (1¼m) 15 days ago. Not taken lightly back in handicap company.

Form: 02-221

(5)

Military Air^h⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Blake| OR: 77

50/1

Useful performer up to 1½m for H-F. Devin in France. However, little promise in 4 starts for David O'Meara this season, again failing to beat a rival in handicap at Doncaster (1¼m, good to firm) in July. Needs this yard switch to spark major progress.

Form: 30-6058

(1)

Empirical^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 82| D

3/1

Kingman colt who is on the up since fitted with headgear, going in at Nottingham (1m) and Ayr (1¼m) in July. Took another step forward when second of 7 over C&D 23 days ago. Can go very well again.

Form: 3-83112

(7)

Due To Henry^b1³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Oliver Carmichael⁽⁷⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 76| CD

10/1

Unreliable sort though he went off too hard when last of 7 in handicap at Yarmouth (1¼m, good) 3 days ago. Took this in 2024 so can't be discounted if on his A-game in a change of headgear (blinkers on for first time).

Form: 0-25357

(6)

Double Red¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 73| D

14/1

Frequent slow starter who made a winning return at Lingfield (1¼m) in April. Back in good nick since refitted with cheekpieces, not seen to best effect with eighth of 9 in handicap at Epsom (1¼m, good) 18 days ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 844258

(9)

Lucky Luna¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Joe Leavy| T: R Hannon| OR: 74

18/1

Got off the mark in 7f maiden at Salisbury in June and resumed progress when runner-up in 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 17 days ago. Should remain competitive nudged up 1 lb.

Form: 46162

Non-Runners

(3)

Dark Whisper⁵⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: D Menuisier J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Interstate (9/4), Empirical (10/3), Due To Henry (11/2), Lucky Luna (6/1), Law Court (15/2), Double Red (12/1), Dark Whisper (12/1), Sweet Reward (20/1), Military Air (25/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but EMPIRICAL's form is on an upward curve and he is fancied to resume winning ways after finding only one too good over C&D last time. Interstate remains with few miles on the clock and rates the chief threat on the back of a breakthrough novice success at Newcastle, while Law Court is weighted to go well if shrugging off a lesser effort at Ascot.