ARAB DAWN will bid to prove his versatility by winning the 56th John Smith's Cup at York Racecourse tomorrow.

The Hughie Morrison-trained four-year-old delivered Royal Ascot glory when taking the Duke of Edinburgh handicap over a mile-and-a-half last month.

Now Arab Dawn is brought back in trip for the extended mile-and-a-quarter handicap on Knavesmire, which is worth £150,000, though he has also been given an entry for the Betfred Ebor over his proven distance of a mile and six furlongs.

Morrison is happy with his charge, but admits that bringing him back in distance from his Ascot heroics raises its concerns.

He said: “He is a horse we feel we can move around in trip but Saturday will prove whether we can or not, if he runs his race. It may be a bit sharp for him – we will find out on Saturday. It was a stiff mile and a half at Ascot.

“We hope that we get nice ground – not too soft, not too fast. He seems in good form since Ascot. But as a caveat, I would say a lot of horses have not run well since Ascot. There is no good reason, except Ascot takes a lot out of horses.”

Arab Dawn, who is drawn in stall 13, is 3lb well in compared to his current official rating of 104. He carries a 5lb penalty for his Royal Ascot win, for which he was raised 8lb by the handicapper.

A full field of 20 sees trainer Luca Cumani double-handed with Mount Logan and Ajman Bridge. The Italian is seeking a first ever winner in the renowned race.

Yorkshireman-in-exile, William Haggas, has a fine record in the John Smith’s Cup, having won it twice in the last four runnings (Green Destiny 2011 and Danchai 2013). This time the Newmarket-based trainer will be targeting the race with Battalion and Homage.

A high-class card also includes the John Smith's City Walls Stakes and Yorkshire-based trainer David Griffiths is hoping Take Cover can produce a repeat triumph.

Griffiths, who trains at Bawtry not far from Doncaster, enjoyed a brilliant season with his sprinting ace in 2014.

Take Cover blazed to victory on the Knavesmire exactly a year ago, landing the five-furlong Listed prize and the majority share of the £40,000 pot. He confirmed himself a stakes-class speedster that day, beating subsequent Group 1 winner G Force and went on to scale further heights with a Group 2 victory over the minimum trip at Glorious Goodwood.

Now eight, he showed he retains his enthusiasm and ability with a superb effort in the Group 1 King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.

After his seasonal bow in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, Griffiths’ charge put his best foot forward at the Royal meeting, finishing sixth of 18, having led for much of the race.

Griffiths said: “He is all speed and is completely suited to the quick five furlongs at York and Goodwood. The five furlongs at Ascot is a little bit stiffer but he ran a cracker. He has come on a ton from that and I think this is his time of year as well, as last year proved.

“He is 100 per cent bang right and we are obviously hopeful of a good run. It’s all systems go for Saturday.”