Monday racing tips: Andy Ayres picks out his Monday Nap, reflects on a cracking day at Ascot and describes the huge punt that went down at Kempton on Friday

SOME SHREWD punters had it right off at Kempton Park on Saturday night.

Canny Joseph Tuite and his right-hand man Chris Martin were pacing the track like a couple of expectant fathers before Cockney Hill (20-1 to 13-8) ran in the 6f novice event.

Make no mistake, proper money was down and Oisin Murphy didn’t mess about, killing the race stone dead by halfway and winning by the length of a Heathrow runway.

The horse was sent off 100-1 when barely raising a leg on his previous start, so it was a moral that the Stewards’ would have the trainer in for an explanation.

Gawd knows how Joseph convinced them the horse had come on for being gelded – he’s listed as being cut in January 2018! – and I reckon this was one of those punts you tell the grandkids about.

Front-runners bossed the card and we saw a contender for ride of the season when Richard Kingscote pinched a hot two-miler on 33-1 rag Stamford Raffles.

Oxford and Cambridge should run four-year courses to work out how this one snuck home in front, and it would be fair to say he came back to a decidedly muted response from the regulars.

Paul Nicholls dominated the day over jumps and has a proper star on his hands in Cyrname (4-1 to 3-1), who was well punted before murdering Ascot’s 2m5f track record.

The horse is a proper Nigel Farage – he can only go right-handed – so Cheltenham and Aintree’s loss will be Punchestown’s gain this spring.

Al Dancer (3-1 to 5-2) won the Betfair Hurdle with so much in hand that the ref should have stepped in and stopped the contest at Swinley Bottom.

HOTPOTS & HOWLERS Don’t miss the latest instalment as Jack Keene takes the hotseat this week

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies would rather wash his duffle coat than miss a chance at The Festival and this one is nailed-on to go close in the Supreme Novice Hurdle.

There were a few football chants round the paddock after the big race but that’s nothing compared to the lemons who were brawling in front of the members’ lawn up at Haydock.

We had more than enough of that sort of nonsense at the races last summer. If these loons want to fight then they should join a boxing club and let the rest of us enjoy our sport.

Nicola Currie is flying on the AW but had an absolute mare on the well bet Atomic Jack (10-30 to 13-8) at Lingfield on Friday.

Natty Nicola was stuck behind a dead one from halfway, got dragged to the back of the pack and needed a sat-nav to find a run before flying home in second.

Trainer George Baker took the defeat well, but after a couple of frustrating near-misses must be thinking he should bin his lucky odd socks and invest in a rabbit’s foot.

Epsom man Lee Carter was in hot water here after the track vet found the vaccination records for his Treble Clef had been altered.

The horse was scratched, search parties went out for the trainer and the BHA are getting ready to ask some questions.

There was a happier story over at Sandown, where crack amateur Brodie Hampson won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Carlos Du Fruitier (5-2 to 7-4).

Brave Brodie has a heart the size of a house and is still kicking them home after breaking her back twice.

This one was a bit special though, as her dad spent 24-years in the Royal Artillery and has his ashes scattered by the winning post.

Neil Mullholland sends VIS A VIS (2.00) on a 300-mile trip up to Carlisle today for his hurdling debut and will be disappointed if he’s beaten, while DOMINATEUR (3.15) should break his duck at Lingfield.

Best bet there is RIVIERE ARGENTEE (4.25) in the mares’ handicap hurdle. She’s improved since joining Milton Harris and was only nutted in a photo at Plumpton last week.