SOME big reputations could be made, or shattered, at York Racecourse tomorrow. If you take the entries list as a guide, it’s a field of eight impressive horses who go for Listed honours in the prestigious Stowe Family LLP Grand Cup.

Take the progressive Friston Forest for Dubai racing magnates Godolphin.

Knavesmire is set to be the scene for the five-year-old’s first British start – after seeing off stable companion Veracity by the narrowest of margins at Nad Al Sheba in February.

Royal Ascot and the Gold Cup, or the Hardwicke Stakes, could be on the agenda but first the son of Barathea – who has won seven times from 14 starts – has to prove it at York in the 1m 6f event.

Previously trained for Sheikh Mohammed by Andre Fabre in France, it is Saeed bin Suroor who is now charged with extracting the best out of him. He says all options are open.

“Since he arrived in England he has been very well and in good condition. The horse is working well and we are looking forward to running him,” Suroor said.

“He is a tough, solid horse who tries really hard and we will see how he runs. I’m sure he will improve for the race and we’ll keep his options open for Royal Ascot. A mile and a half-plus will suit him.” In his way stands Karl Burke’s Furmigadelaguista, who battered the field in the Jorvik Stakes at the May Festival. And, although he is stepping up in trip, and class, the Leyburn trainer believes his five-year-old is up to the task.

Burke said: “He won very impressively that day – he absolutely annihilated them. “He has come out of the race great and I am very happy with him. He is stepping up in trip, but I don’t see a mile and six furlongs as a problem to him. I’ve always thought of him as a potential Cup horse. He’s fine on good, fast ground, but I would not want it to dry up too much and that’s something we will keep an eye on.” And watch out for Bahamian Babe in the £40,000 sportingbet.com Sprint Heritage Handicap. Michael Bell’s speed machine had her career highlight at York when notching the Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Stakes a year ago.

She has run a series of creditable races since then, including finishing fifth of 16 to subsequent Temple Stakes winner Look Busy in a Listed race at Bath on April 28. Now Bahamian Babe has been allocated just eight stone – and her apprentice rider Matthew Lawson will take off additional weight – for an assignment that will see her line up against 14 rivals. Bell said: “She is definitely on a fair mark and we are keen to run her in the race. “The ground should be perfect. She is a course and distance winner to boot, which is an added bonus. “She is a very uncomplicated ride and ought to be very competitive.

The seven-race card gets under way at 2.10pm with one of the big screens showing uninterrupted coverage of the FA Cup final between Everton and Chelsea.

Watch out for York City’s Wembley heroes, who are also attending.