Williamson won the race in 2006 with Jasmyn's Gift and last year with Springbank Richard.
Leighton Hest finished second from a 50m handicap when resuming at Gore on August 29. He indicated he had trained on with a fine trial win at Forbury Park on Monday.
The winner of nine races, Leighton Hest beat a handy field of trotters at Addington in May.
Ray could be a formidable opponent for Leighton Hest. The winner of nine of his 14 starts, Ray can be expected to improve sharply after his race at Addington on August 27. He had not raced for 21 months after twice having bone chips removed from a knee.
His trainer Tim Butt and driver Anthony Butt won the Ordeal Cup with Take A Moment in 2002 and 2003.
Stunin Cullen, a stablemate of Ray, may have a fitness edge on his rivals in the New Brighton Cup free-for-all. He has had a win and a fast-finishing second to his stablemate Raglan in two starts in a fresh campaign. He has recaptured his grand 2 and 3yr-old form and proven the success of throat surgery.
He advanced his claim for tonight with a brilliant workout win at Rangiora last Saturday.
Monkey King, the New Zealand and Auckland Cups winner of last season, has had trials and workouts to fit him for a fresh campaign.
Bondy, a trial winner this season, won the New Brighton Cup last year when more seasoned.
