By Graham Clark - the Jockey Club

Mick Appleby hopes he can continue what has been a month to savour by securing victory in the Stablemate By Agma Carlisle Bell Handicap today - however he admits it is ‘hard to split’ his two runners in the race, United Front and Golden Sands.  

Fresh from celebrating his first Royal Ascot win last week with Big Evs in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, the Langham-based handler will now attempt to claim the mile prize at the Cumbrian track which was first run in 1599.  

Not only will the pair be chasing their share of the £30,000 prize money on offer, but they will also be running for the oldest sporting trophy in the world - two silver bells which date back to the initial running of the race.  

Both Golden Sands and United Front arrive in the race in winning form after registering victories at Beverley on their most recent starts.  

And with the nature of the track at Carlisle expected to suit both horses, Appleby is confident that each of them has a good chance of fighting it out at the finish.  

Appleby said: “I’ve just about come back to earth after last week at Ascot. We had a staff party that night when we got back. I was up until about 11pm but I was shattered as it was a long day, but it was a very good day.  

“Looking at the two we have in the Carlisle Bell they both won last time out so they are going there in good form and the track should be ideal as it is similar to Beverley.  

“It is very hard to split them. If it was on the all-weather I would say United Front as he has a higher mark on that but this is on the turf and Golden Sands is a good horse on his day. Both should have a very good chance and I’d like to think they will be up there.” 

Victory last time out at Beverley was a first on turf for United Front, whose previous five wins have all come on the all-weather, however Appleby believes the six year old gelding still on a mark which means he is well handicapped on grass.  

Appleby said: “It was the first time United Front had won on the turf when he won last time but he had a lower handicap mark on the turf.  

“He had run well on the turf though at Nottingham a couple of years ago but it was good to finally get a win on that surface.  

“We have run him more on the all-weather just because he has run some decent races on it and the opportunities were there for him.  

“We are claiming three pounds off his back with Freddie (Larson, jockey) riding him so he is effectively off the same mark as last time.  

“He is going there well handicapped on the turf.” 

Jockey bookings might suggest that Golden Sands is the more fancied runner with Ali Rawlinson taking the reins, but Appleby insists the 31-year-old rider is integral to the chances of the Footstepsinthesand gelding if he is to stand a real chance of victory.  

Appleby added: “United Front is a good ride and he has a good temperament whereas Ali always rides Golden Sands as he is quite a difficult ride and he gets on well with him.  

“It was always the plan to come to this race with Golden Sands after Beverley as he is very much a seven furlong to a mile horse.  

“As for United Front the owners wanted to put him in the race after his Beverley win last time out. It is nice to be able to have two runners in a race like this.”