Best horse racing tips for today’s action at Musselburgh, Redcar, Southwell, Salisbury, Chelmsford and Punchestown from Tom Bull

ALL the action is gearing up to the 2,000 Guineas this week, but there’s still some scintillating stuff to get stuck into beforehand.

Thursday sees some belting action on the Flat alongside some cracking stuff over at Punchy, so here’s hoping for some winners.

Musselburgh

5.00 Cosmic Ray – Had been in the doldrums for a long time prior to bouncing back at Nottingham last time when he made all for a convincing success in a classified stakes.

That was over a mile and he’s 4lb higher now back in a handicap but if that’s done his confidence some good then he’ll take some catching again.

Joe Fanning is electric from the front at Musselburgh and expect him to get the fractions absolutely bang on.

Redcar

4.00 Clayton – I don’t usually like putting horses up in claimers/sellers but Archie Watson appears to hold all the aces here.

His veteran made a winning stable debut at Musselburgh last time, making all under this jockey – and this isn’t much harder.

It often pays to side with horses in good heart in these races and Clayton is one of very few who fits the bill.

Southwell

2.05 Loose Chippings – Has hit the crossbar twice in recent starts, both times just losing out in a tight finish over this course and distance.

Silvestre De Sousa now takes over from a claimer and that could make the difference.

This is a decent race for the grade but he gets in at the bottom of the weights and could have too much firepower.

Getty Images - Getty

Salisbury

7.05 Past Master – Henry Candy’s contender won over this course and distance back in September and followed that with a good second at Kempton.

He’s not been seen for a while but if raring to go then he must have a big chance with conditions ideal.

Still lightly raced for a six-year-old, he could yet have improvement left in him and rates a decent punt to make it three wins from his last five starts.

Chelmsford

6.20 Lord Lamington – Looks a proper stayer judged on his easy win over an extended 1m5f last time out, where he beat a couple of promising sorts.

Now gets the services of Ryan Moore and should be able to defy a 5lb rise if he carries on improving.

This is a pretty strong race but his trainer is in fine form and he should be staying on strongest towards the end.

Punchestown

6.40 Defi Du Seuil – One of the top novices this season needs the utmost respect based on his JLT win, where he got the better of subsequent impressive Aintree winner Lostintranslation.

The drop to 2m is a slight unknown but he’s got plenty of speed and it’s worth remembering he won a Triumph earlier in his career.

He can improve on trainer Philip Hobbs’ fine record at this venue.