THE Jersey racing season opens on Easter Monday at Les Landes – and an exciting campaign is in prospect.

The Island welcomes two new trainers to its ranks in the form of Rachel Powell and Stan Kennelly, and 13 new horses have joined the various stables over the winter as the quality of the horses and the standard of racing in Jersey continues its rapid ascent of the last couple of years.

No English-trained horse was able to trouble the judge last season, and the strength in depth of the Island’s 50-odd racehorses means that the days of Jersey being a ‘soft touch’ for the visitors are long gone.

With the new racecourse facilities expected to be completed during the current season, these are exciting times for all those who take part in the Jersey racing experience.

The feature race is a 7f conditions race and the biggest field of the day lines up for this one.

Former Royal Ascot winner Persian Majesty is the highest-rated horse in the race and arrives at Les Landes having won three races at the back end of 2006 in France over longer distances.

Although the tape start is an uncertainty, he is a must for any shortlist.

Perfect Portrait made all to win this race last year and, closest to Persian Majesty in the ratings, he is fancied to do the same on this occasion.

High Voltage is another Jersey debutant with a decent past.

However, there are stamina doubts over this former high-class sprinter, who changed hands for £3,500 guineas in the autumn.

He also has a lot to find on official ratings with Persian Majesty and Perfect Portrait.

Ask the Clerk never got to grips with Jersey last season, while Master Rattle, Conkyvoddy and Treat Me Wild seem outclassed.

On all known form, three-year-old Jersey debutant Solis Obitus would need to have grown wings like Pegasus to take a hand under Steve ‘Karaoke King’ Leach.

Full preview in today’s JEP.