By Keith Hamer and Thomas Deane, PA Sport

Sergeant Cecil bids to go from handicap history-maker to champion stayer in the £225,000 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursdayt.

Rod Millman's pride and joy rewrote the record books last year when becoming the first horse to win the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch in the same season.

He has gone on to prove his worth in Group company by finishing second in both the Doncaster and Yorkshire Cups.

Now comes the acid test for the popular seven-year-old gelding in his first Group One.

"It's a big jump up from what he's done before," said Millman.

"He's been second in the Doncaster Cup and the Yorkshire Cup. Forget about his other wins - to be runner-up in two Group Twos, that's pretty good for any horse.

"Everything's gone just right and I couldn't be more pleased with him.

"We wouldn't want any rain though, we'd like good fast ground. I'd expect most of the field would want that.

"He ran very well at York last time even though he didn't like the ground.

"He's ready to go. If he gets beat there'll be no excuses. I'm sure the only thing that will stop him getting the trip will be if he's not good enough.

"There won't be many with a turn of foot at the end if we're close enough."

Millman has every respect for last year's runner-up Distinction.

"If the best Distinction turns up he'll take all the beating," added the Cullompton trainer.

"If the one turned up that we beat in the Doncaster Cup he won't win. He's got to run to his Gold Cup form of last year to beat us."

Sergeant Cecil had Distinction 11 lengths back in sixth when finishing second to Millenary on Town Moor last September.

Jockey Alan Munro is also looking for a big run.

"He is a horse that's really close to my heart. I love that horse. He just always turns up and always runs his race. He's fantastic," he said.

"He really got me back on the map after I'd been away for a long time and I owe him a lot.

"He ran a great race at York last time, we were delighted with him. He's never been this far before but he has given every indication that he will stay.

"He's a genuine good ground horse really. He can act on fast ground too so it should suit him but when it's soft he can't really finish his races.

"He has shown a smart turn of foot in handicaps so now we need to see if he can do it at the top level, I'm hoping he can."

Distinction, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, is reported to be in fine form ahead of his bid to go one better than 12 months ago.

He proved well suited to the two-and-a-half-mile trip when finding only Westerner a neck too strong in 2005.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: "His preparation has gone very smoothly, I spoke to Sir Michael a couple of days ago and he's very pleased with him.

"We hope, having seen him run so well on his debut to win, that he has improved again this year, and touch wood it seems he might have done.

"Our horse is in good form, he's run good races at Ascot before, and we're hopeful of a very big run. Ground conditions should be great - he loves the fast ground.

"Mick Kinane knows him so well and it's just so exciting for everyone connected with the horse to have the favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup.

"It's a very tough race. I think Sergeant Cecil will be a very tough nut to crack, and Reefscape is also fancied, so it will be a very interesting race," he added.

"It's an exciting race and we're going there with all guns blazing."

Westerner took the stayers' crown for France at Royal Ascot at York 12 months ago and their hopes on Thursday are carried by Reefscape.

The five-year-old, trained by Andre Fabre, is the only distance winner in the field having won the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp last October.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He has won over the trip but it wasn't a fast-run Cadran when he won.

"He's had Group One penalties in his last two runs and he's taken a while to get going this year but he's improved with each run, which is pleasing.

"He goes nicely on fast ground so that should suit him."

Guadalajara bids to give Godolphin their fifth Gold Cup triumph after Classic Cliche (1996), Kayf Tara (1998 and 2000) and Papineau (2004).

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "It's her first run for us but she had some good form in France.

"We're hoping that she runs well and it's a case of dipping our toe in the water and hoping that she runs well."

Karl Burke is expecting a good run from the supplemented Akarem, despite the step up in class.

"He's in great form and is a horse who needs plenty of racing," said Burke.

"It doesn't look an overly strong renewal of the Gold Cup and the owners were keen to go. He's in grand form so we'll take our chance.

"His best form is with a little more give in the ground, but at least with the ground as it is, it may help him get the trip.

"We won't know if he'll get the trip until Thursday, but I'm sure he gets two miles and probably a bit more so we'll see."

Ryan Moore is hoping for a big run from his mount Tungsten Strike, trained by Amanda Perrett.

He said: "I know the horse quite well and I am sure that he will stay. He is very honest and will like the ground. I will be very disappointed if he is not in the first four."