FORTY-THREE horses stood their ground at the four-day declaration stage for the second Jersey Race Club event of the year at Les Landes tomorrow – the Jersey Guineas meeting.

It is certainly an encouraging number, and one which bodes well for this season.

The feature event of the afternoon’s five races is, of course, the Jersey Guineas, sponsored by the Hemmings Family. Trevor Hemmings is a great supporter of National Hunt racing in the UK, owning three runners in last week’s Grand National, including the favourite, Cloudy Lane, and former winner Hedgehunter, who was retired earlier this week.

Ten horses line up for the Jersey Guineas, run over an extended mile. As this is a level-weight contest, with allowances for mares and three-year-olds, in theory the highest-rated horse should win.

Following successful seasons three and four years ago, Des Ahier’s Catcando would be conceding weight all round to his rivals. However, he has run only intermittently in 2006 and 2007, but he returned a fortnight ago and was given a suitable ride for his return to the track. That outing will have improved his level of fitness, and with the stable jockey on board, more will be expected of him tomorrow.

A stable companion of Catcando is Buckie Massa, owned by Messrs Poynton and Morton. This newcomer to Jersey racing gave a good account of himself first time out at Les Landes when finishing second to Mobus Wan in receipt of 7 lb.

Again, this Stephen Arthur-trained horse will have benefited from his first-season outing, and even though he meets Mobus Wan at level weights, they will finish much closer this time.

Of the remainder, Phyllis Somers’s Perfect Portrait is a probable for the minor placings, although he is ideally suited to a shorter distance.

Flighty Fellow, from Joan Le Brocq’s yard, is having his first run in Jersey. This gelding’s form in the UK suggests that he is capable of winning in Jersey and is maybe one to note for the future.

tOP TIPS: 2.30: Groomsman; 3.05: Kristinor; 3.40: Catcando; 4.15: Jilvaro; 4.50: Treat Me Wild.