Carlisle's most famous race, the Carling Carlisle Bell, is traditionally a tricky proposition for punters and this year's renewal is no exception. However, there are signs the four-year-old Veiled Applause might have hit top form just now and could be the answer to this particular conundrum. Ralph Beckett's Royal Applause gelding ran consistency well last season but only got his head in front once - winning over a mile at Chepstow. He generally ran much better than his form figures suggested and connections must have had high hopes of a good season this year. Three runs over a mile at Bath, Brighton and Windsor almost brought that deserved second victory, with the gelding finishing second each time - beaten a neck, half-a-length and a head respectively. That elusive success finally came over a mile back at Windsor this month, when the gelding raced up with the pace before taking it up two furlongs out and pulling away from his field to win more comfortably than the two-length winning margin would suggest. He carries a 6lb penalty as a result but won so easily last time he should be capable of following up. A winner at the start of his three-year-old campaign after eight runs without success as a juvenile, Apex was to go very nearly three years before visiting the winner's enclosure again. However, since scoring at Warwick this April, he has gone five races without tasting defeat on the track. He has a loss to his name, however, when after beating Sugitani by a short head on the fibresand at Southwell last month, he lost the race in the stewards' room after drifting right in the closing stages. That blemish apart, the Efisio gelding's record since joining Martin Hill in the spring has been outstanding. His run of four successes - and that disqualification - has seen him rise 32lb in the handicap. However, his last two wins have been by three and five lengths, with him defying an 8lb rise in the weights and a 6lb penalty respectively. He is up a massive 11lb for the Noel Cannon Memorial Trophy Handicap at Salisbury - attempting to win off a mark of 85 - but that might not anchor him. He scored off 80 when with Ed Dunlop and won with such ease last time out, he looks capable of clocking up another success here. John Gosden looks to have a very nice filly on his hands in the shape of Labor Day and the daughter of Pivotal can break her duck in the Smith & Williamson Maiden Fillies' Stakes. Today's saraband selection bath: 6.40 Aaim For Applause, 7.10 Sad Times, 7.40 Indian Edge, 8.10 Drawback, 8.40 Orama's Ghost, 9.10 Stamford Blue. CARLISLE: 2.00 Nawaaff, 2.30 Liberty Ship, 3.00 Gunfighter, 3.30 Veiled Applause (nap), 4.00 Pocketwood, 4.30 Dispol Isle, 5.00 Hypnosis. KEMPTON: 6.20 Im Ova Ere Dad, 6.50 Kyrie Eleison, 7.20 Primed And Poised, 7.50 China Cherub, 8.20 Wild Fell Hall, 8.50 Katiypour, 9.20 Bob's Your Uncle. SALISBURY: 2.10 Katrina Bee, 2.40 Labor Day, 3.10 Moon Quest, 3.40 Hucking Hope, 4.10 Apex, 4.40 Nawaqees, 5.10 Passing Hour. DOUBLE: Veiled Applause and Apex. | 
