The leaves are falling, there's a nip in the air and now's the time for rummaging in the wardrobe to find the heavy coat. Racing fans will soon be turning their attention to the other code.

However, there is still time to reflect upon a tremendous Flat season, highlighted by Sea The Stars's epic journey from promising two-year-old to arguably the best horse we've seen in the last 30 years.

Yet, as for a more emotional afternoon, could there be anything to top day four of the Royal meeting?

Barry Hills and Henry Cecil, two titans of training and both battling cancer, respectively gained popular successes as Ghanaati landed the Coronation Stakes and Father Time took the King Edward VII Stakes.

Both are held in great affection by the racing public and the legions of Hills' supporters will be pinning their hopes that tomorrow's Group 3
Willmott Dixon Bengough Memorial Stakes at Ascot can go to Prime Defender (2.55).

Hills has always thought a lot of the five-year-old, a useful yardstick who invariably runs well at this level.

Though he has not won since March, when taking the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster, he has been a little unlucky in several big-field sprint handicaps since.

There is not much of a gap between decent handicappers and Group-class sprinters, so it was no surprise to see Prime Defender running in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, where he finished just over five lengths behind Fleeting Spirit.

And there was plenty to like about his run in the Group 2 Diadem here two weeks ago when, blinkered for the first time, he stayed on in eye-catching style to finish fifth to Sayif.

If the blinkers work again, he holds a good chance of at least making the frame at rewarding odds. The handicapper has also started to relent with Prime Defender running off an official mark of 107, having won off 109 in March.  

Ironically, Cecil saddles a horse with similar credentials in the 1m 4f Heritage Handicap that follows.

Unleashed (3.30) has been campaigned at higher levels this summer and also wore blinkers for the first time when third to Record Breaker over course and distance last time, where he looked like the winner turning in before hitting a flat spot.

This genuine four-year-old is a very good horse on his day and shouldn't be far away from the money again at odds of around 20-1.

Milham's Ascot Channel 4 tips
2.55 Prime Defender, 3.30 Unleashed