London has been dry. These are glorious autumn days in England. There is a chill in the air at daybreak. Twilight time sees the temperature drop. It is great walking weather and now and then, I think about the possibility of living in London for a year or two. There is so much history. Every time I come to London, I discover something new. What brings me back is my love of English racing, especially, grass racing. No two courses are alike. In the recent past, there are more meetings run on all weather tracks. It adds excitement to the fix.

The Friday card at Ascot had six races. The going was good and good to firm in places. The same description will apply to Saturday’s conditions as well. Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course, could not have been more pleased. He issued a statement on Friday. “We will not be watering this evening. The trainers and the jockeys have been really positive and said that the ground is perfect.”

Dry weather is in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday. The temperature is expected to be 20-21 C.

Shamandar was the only favourite to win on Friday. The odds were prohibitive. The starting price was 8-11 and the betting public refused to look beyond the three year-old, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Michael Hills. The race was the 1300-metre Watership Down Stud Sales race that carried a purse of 123,100 pounds to the winner. There were 27 runners in the race.

The field split into two groups. Both Shamandar and Dubawi Heights, who finished second, raced on the far side. Dettori struck the front with Dubawi Heights with 200 metres to travel and was shaping like a winner. Shamandar went in chase and began asserting himself after a brief duel. The winning margin was one half-length. The time was 1 21.39 for the 1300-metre race. Shamandar was bought for 3,500 pounds.

William Haggas, Lester Piggott’s son in law, could not contain his glee. “This is what keeps everyone in this great sport. You can still get them for this sort of money.”

Jockey Michael Hills spoke. “I was a bit worried when they split but I wanted to go right. She got a bit keen but her class won the race for her.”

Here are the odds on the winning horses on Friday. In the opener, Rainbow Peak, brilliantly handled by Kieren Fallon, won at 9-2. In the second, Enact, the 9-4 favourite ridden by Ryan Moore, was turned over by Rules’n Regulations, a 20-1 chance< William Buick up. Another 20-1 outsider won. Spirit of Dubai, again ridden by Buick, caught Polly’s Mark, the favourite and a Richard Hughes mount, in the last jump. Frankie Dettori connected with Glowing Praise at 9-1. The finale, an event for amateurs (gentleman riders), went to Crossbow Creek at 25-1.

There are seven races at Ascot on Saturday. The second is the G II Royal Lodge Stakes over 1600 metres. Frozen Power has won three in row. The Oasis Dream colt has won at Epsom, Salisbury and at Deauville. Frankie Dettori rides. Eleven run.

The Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, a G I race, has nine runners. Another Godolphin-owned youngster, Long Lashes, heads the market. Barry Hills sends out Sent From Heaven. Michael Hills is aboard. Aidan O’Brien’s You’ll Be Mine is in the field and will have John Murtagh.

The Queen Elizabeth II Mile, a G I race, is being sponsored by Sony. Only four go postward. Rip Van Winkle is 8-11 as of late Friday. Delegator is 9-4. Zacinto and Aqlaam are the other two.

Jockey Murtagh rode at Dundalk late Friday. He drew a blank. Murtagh has expressed confidence about Rip Van Winkle. “He has cruising speed. If nobody wants the lead, I will take it. It will be a clean-run race. The best horse will win. Rip Van Winkle is ready.”

The winners of the three races get berths in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races. In 2009, Raven’s Pass won the QE II and went on to win the BC Classic at Santa Anita. The John Gosden trainee handled Santa Anita’s pro ride surface with rare aplomb.

There is a 1400-metre race at Ascot on Saturday. It is the Totesport.com Challenge Cup. There are 29 runners. I will be at Ascot to witness this spectacle.

At Dundalk (in Ireland) on Friday, jockey Willie Supple came away with a treble. He won with Moonreach at 4-5 and steered the 9-2 Dream Deer to victory and his third came with Oversighted, a 25-1 chance. Talk of a productive day and there you have it!

Chris Hayes has been going through a dry spell. However, he rode Northgate in a 2000-metre race to beat John Murtagh and Augustusthestrong in a photo finish. It was an exciting duel down the lane of the all weather track. With his departure for India coming up soon, we need an in-form Hayes.

Belmont Park hosts the G II Gallant Bloom on Saturday. Indian Blessing, the Eclipse winner in 2007 and 2008, concedes six pounds to the ultra-sharp Sara Louise who claim to fame is the defeat she inflicted on Rachel Alexandra in a Graded race at Churchill Downs last year. Edgar Prado rides Sara Louise. The Gallant Bloom is over 1,300 metres.

Kerrin McEvoy won a G I race at Monnee Valley in Australia on Friday. The Manikato Stakes, a 1200-metre race on the grass, was a weight-for-age event. Danleigh, trained by Chris Waller, beat a group of more accomplished rivals. Danleigh was a 16-1 chance.

The appeal lodged by Dar Re Mi’s owners against the disqualification of their filly in the Prix Vermeille has been heard and a decision has been given. The French Stewards have ruled that Dar Re Mi caused the alleged interference. The result was unaltered.

Tony McCoy, Britain’s top jumps jockey, was hurt in a fall at Fontwell on Thursday. He did not ride at Worcester on Friday. He has been getting physiotherapy and is expected to resume riding on Saturday at Market Rasen.

John Murtagh and Pat Smullen are tied at 72 apiece in the Irish jockeys’ race. Pat Smullen won in 2008. Murtagh was 12 wins ahead until early September. He had a fall and missed several days. Smullen made themost of Murtagh’s absence and caught up. Murtagh is at 8-11 and Smullen is at 6-4.