Mark Johnston has warned Bikini Babe may not be at the peak of her powers for her seasonal comeback in the williamhill.com Magnolia Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.

The daughter of Montjeu ran a number of notable races in defeat during 2010, going down by just half a length in a French Group Three and signing off with a third-place finish in Listed event at Dundalk.

Johnston is of the opinion that his filly will not find her stride until later in the year, but sees this weekend's prize as the perfect starting point.

‘‘It's an ideal race for her to start off in and we're happy with her,'' said Johnston.

‘‘It is still quite early in the year to be running her - we hadn't expected to have her ready this early, so we have slight reservations about that.

‘‘But this does look like the perfect place for her to go at this stage.''

Bikini Babe faces eight rivals in the ten-furlong Listed affair, with William Haggas saddling last year's Lincoln winner, Penitent, and Shamali.

Mr Willis, Pink Symphony and Saphira's Fire are other notable runners.

n Harrison George heads the weights, and a maximum field of 22 runners, for the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.

The six-year-old is one of six entries for Richard Fahey as he searches for a first victory in tomorrow's historic one-mile handicap.

The Malton handler is also represented by last year's second Prime Exhibit, Castles In The Air, Brae Hill, Our Joe Mac and Irish Heartbeat, with stable jockey Paul Hanagan choosing to ride the latter.

The ante-post favourite for the race is the John Gosden-trained Taqleed, while the Clarehaven trainer also saddles Doctor Crane, who makes his first racecourse appearance in almost two years.