THE 2007 Jersey Race Club’s season got under way yesterday afternoon with a crowd of 2,500 – and favourite-backers being rewarded as three of the five races went to the market leader.

Feature race of the day at Les Landes, The On Course Bookmakers Plate, was won by Persian Majesty.

The Vicki Lucas-trained seven-year-old had the look of the afternoon’s sure fire winner prior to racing as, if the race had been a handicap, he would have been conceding lumps of weight to the opposition.

The winner was settled in third place for most of the race by jockey Tony Procter until approaching the furlong marker and although Ask the Clerk came with a late challenge and only finished two lengths away in second, the style of his win suggested that Persian Majesty had a fair amount in hand.

Cronkyvoddy kept on well to take third place a further six lengths behind.

Disappointment of the race was Perfect Portrait who after leading for most of the race dropped away tamely to finish a well beaten fourth.

Trainer Victoria Lucas and jockey Procter were completing a double on the afternoon having won the first race of the season, the IRB Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The field was reduced to only three runners with the non appearance of forecasted favourite Groomsman.

Rosa Sainte, who won the corresponding race last season went off favourite, just ahead of the Lucas-trained Tevere.

The six year old Tevere had won on his one and only outing at Les Landes last season before moving to the powerful David Pipe yard in the UK.

On his return to local soil he led from start to finish and always had the measure of Ross Sainte winning by a comfortable eight lengths with the outclassed Opera Villevert a distance back in third.

There was also a double on the card for trainer Alyson Malzard and jockey Adam Jones, firstly winning the Channel Islands Racing and Hunt Club Handicap with Koka Fast and then taking the Supporters Handicap with Khuzdar.

Koka Fast’s winning distance of nine lengths was undoubtedly exaggerated as Tony Procter, the rider of the second placed Last Eclipse, seemed to drop his hands after passing the furlong marker allowing the winner an effortless win.

Although the runner up might not have won he most definitely would have finished a great deal closer if he had been ridden with a bit more vigour.

The form of third placed Top Level should be ignored as she failed to see the one-and-a-half-mile trip out being under pressure over four furlongs out, she will be seen to better effect over a much shorter distance.

Prior to the start of Khuzdar’s race, stablemate Mobus Wan threw his jockey Jack Mitchell from the saddle on entering the course and did a circuit before being caught in the saddling area and as a result of his antics was withdrawn from the race.

Held up in his customary position at the back of the field Jones brought his mount up on the rails on entering the straight to win going away from Off Minor by a cosy looking three lengths, with Wall Street Runner a further five lengths back in third.

Final race of the afternoon, The Historic Handicap, resulted in first-season trainer Stan Kennelly in the winners’ enclosure with Snow Lark who had held off the challenge of Sea Lark by three lengths, with the favourite Silver Silence a length away in third.

The winner, ridden by Amy Baker, had failed to salute the judge last season after winning three races in the 2005 season and as a result has dropped down to a favourable handicap mark.

Runner up Sea Lark could well be a horse to follow this season as he never showed his true potential last year and now under the guidance of Stephen Arthur should visit the winners’ enclosure on a couple of occasions this season.

Next meeting is on Sunday 22 April.

2.30: 1, Tevere (owner Dr Ian Shenkin, trainer Miss Victoria Lucas, jockey Tony Procter) evens; 2, Rosa Sainte 4/6; 3, Opera Villevert 9/2.

Dist: 8, distance.

Tote win: £4.

D/F: £1.10.

3.05: 1, Koka Fast (Executors of the late Phil Benest, A Malzard, Adam Jones) evens; 2, Last Eclipse 11/10; 3, Top Level 4/1.

Dist: 9, 20.

Tote win: £3.40.

D/F: £1.60.

3.40: 1, Persian Majesty (Dr Ian Shenkin, V Lucas, A Procter) evens; 2, Ask The Clerk 8/1; 3, Cronkyvoddy 9/1.

Dist: 2,6,4.

Tote win: £3.60, place: £4, £6.80.

D/F: £254.20.

4.15: 1, Khuzdar (Y Burnett and Messrs D Le Poidevin and H Le Poidevin, A Malzard, A Jones) 5/4; 2, Off Minor 6/4; 3, Wall Street Runner 11/2.

Dist: 3,5,3.

Tote win: £5.60; places: £5.60, £4.

D/F: £5.

4.50: 1, Snow Lark (Sterling Partnership, S Kennelly, Amy Baker) 11/2; 2, Sea Lark 6/1; 3, Silver Silence 5/4.

Dist: 3, 1, 2.

Tote win: £16.80; place £5.20, £5.60.

D/F: £41.30.