Cracking got Chester's May meeting off to a thrilling start when just holding the persistent challenge of Fast Feet in the Joseph Heler Cheese Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes.
Richard Hughes set sail for home straightening up for the judge in the minimum distance dash, but Fast Feet was pulled off the rail to throw down his challenge inside the final two furlongs.
Richard Hannon's Acclamation colt was ultra-game in front though, and kept sticking his neck out to deny the 5-2 favourite by a head in a pulsating finish.
Hannon's son and assistant Richard junior said of the 7-2 winner: 'He is a real professional and is very relaxed. Hughsie has always liked him and this was a step up but he has done it well.
'We'll have to look at Royal Ascot now. He might have too big a penalty for the Windsor Forest so he'll probably go to the Norfolk.'
