Jo Mell the pick

Show a bit of loyalty and stick with an old friend in the £150,000 Tote International Stakes at Ascot tomorrow where Jo Mell can land back-to-back victories.

Tim Easterby's charge turned the ultra-competitive seven-furlong race into a procession 12 months ago when slamming Gaelic Storm by three and a half lengths. The gelding has failed to show much sparkle in five starts this season but consequently tomorrow he races off a mark just 3lb higher than last year.

But there was a glimmer of hope over a mile at Sandown last time when he led for five furlongs and was still in touch when hampered on the inside approaching the final furlong. At the line he finished around seven lengths eighth of 10 behind Brilliant Red.

This strong-pulling sort took the Tote Festival Stakes in 1997 over tomorrow's course and distance and is clearly at home over the stiff Ascot track. Last year he was drawn in stall 10 but from stall 19 this time round, he will probably have to race up the other side.

However, there is plenty of pace among the horses drawn high and there is no reason to oppose him purely on those grounds. Despite his recent lack of top form, he has done it all before and it is worth siding with Jo Mell to land the spoils again.

Arabian Moon can cement his prominent position in the betting for the Tote Ebor later this month with victory in the Doubleprint Stakes.