WILLIAM HAGGAS hopes Green Destiny can show his true ability in the 52nd John Smith’s Cup at York on Saturday.

The unexposed four-year-old was the ante-post favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup after consecutive wins at Haydock, Leicester and Newmarket.

However, Haggas decided to skip the annual cavalry charge over a mile to take in the Wolferton Handicap over 1m2f at Royal Ascot.

The plan did not work out as Green Destiny never got competitive, finishing seventh behind Beachfire, leaving Yorkshire exile Haggas hoping for better luck this weekend.

“It’s a very valuable race so we are hoping to run Green Destiny whatever the ground is,” said the Newmarket-based handler.

“I’ve always thought he would be a better horse over 10 furlongs – it wasn’t the trip that got him beat at Ascot, he just got behind and never got into it.

“He won very well at Newmarket in the spring but he did go up 12lb for that so we’ll see – but hopefully he can run well.”

Tom Tate trains close to York at Tadcaster, and could launch a three-pronged attack with Distant Memories, Kings Gambit and Prince Of Johanne.