Captain Gerrard, the pride and joy of his Pocklington owner Reg Bond and his Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart, can end his lucrative juvenile campaign on a high at Ascot tomorrow.

The flying colt, winner of the Roses Stakes at York in August and the Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr last month, bids to make his mark in even more illustrious grade in the Group 3 Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes.

A career-best effort may be required to lift this prize, but Captain Gerrard's form stands up to the closest inspection.

When finishing third in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, prior to his Knavesmire victory, he chased home Fleeting Spirit, subsequent winner of the Flying Childers at Doncaster (in which Captain Gerrard finished fourth) before finishing a close up second in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last week.

In the Molecomb, he also trailed Kingsgate Native, who went on to land a famous victory in the York's Nunthorpe Stakes before finishing second in last Sunday's Prix de l'Abbeye at Longchamp.

Tomorrow's race will be another stern test, but Captain Gerrard, already a four-times winner this season, has what it takes to dominate this field with the rain-softened ground in his favour.

While Sir Michael Stoute's ultra-consistent Queen's Best looks to have solid claims in the Princess Royal Willmott Dixon Stakes, the £75,000 ladbrokes.com Handicap offers Pevensey the chance to resume winning ways for Ryedale trainer John Quinn.

A winner at the Royal meeting, here in June, Pevensey will relish this return to a mile and a half after a good effort over ten furlongs at Ayr last time out.

Julie Camacho's Elkhorn, overdue a winning turn, merits respect in the Gooding Group Apprentice Handicap, while the progressive Ibn Khaldun is fancied to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Deloitte Autumn Stakes under Frankie Dettori.

Racing selections

Ascot 1.10 Captain Gerrard, 1.45 Queen's Best, 2.20 Pevensey, 3.00 Ibn Khaldun, 3.35 Confront, 4.10 Mutajarred, 4.40 Elkhorn.

Tomorrow's other meeting: Bangor, Chepstow, Hexham and Kempton.

Today's meetings: York, Wolverhampton, Carlisle and Lingfield.