TRAINER Brian Ellison has warned stable star Top Notch Tonto is not yet at the peak of his powers as he prepares to make his seasonal reappearance in the bet365 Mile at Sandown today.

The four-year-old did not join Ellison until the middle of last season, having previously been trained by Ian McInnes, but made a winning debut for the Norton-based handler in a Newmarket handicap at the end of July.

That victory sparked a spectacular end to the campaign as he went on to register further successes at Haydock and Redcar before signing off with a superb second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.

The rain that has fallen in Esher in recent days will be to Top Notch Tonto’s advantage and Ellison hopes the race will set him up perfectly for a return to Group One level in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 17.

‘‘It will be an interesting race and we’re looking forward to getting him started,’’ said the trainer.

‘‘I’m sure he’ll improve a lot for the run – we’re getting him ready for the Lockinge - but he’s plenty (of work) done and seems in good form.

‘‘He looks a million dollars and we just want to see him pick up where he left off.

‘‘It’s a good race, as you would expect. There are no gimmes in these races.’’ In recent seasons the Richard Hannon team have saddled seven of the last ten winners.

This year they are represented by last year’s winner Trumpet Major and Montiridge, with Richard Hughes returning from injury to ride the latter.

The champion jockey said: ‘‘Montiridge has won at Sandown in the soft, but Top Notch Tonto, whom I consider our biggest danger, is at his element in these conditions, so I would not mind if we saw some improvement in the ground as the better it is the more it would lessen his chance.”