A ‘CRACKER’ of a ride helped Jacqueline Coward claim the Queen Mother’s Cup at York Racecourse.

Coward, granddaughter of Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby, drove Crackentorp (8-1) to nail long-term leader Inspirina on the line in a photo-finish.

She had cut short a holiday in Portugal to fly back for the ride in the mile-and-a-half contest – the richest race in Europe for lady amateur riders.

Trained by Tim Easterby at Habton Grange, Crackentorp finished third in the race last year and looked, for a moment towards the final furlong, to have to settle for runners-up spot as Inspirina, who had led from early on, made a brave bid to stay in front.

But Coward galvanised the six-year-old and the pair cut down the leader close to the line to win by a head.

As is tradition, the winning rider received her weight in Pol Roger champagne – five cases and one bottle, or 31 in all, loaded onto the antique scales in the winner’s enclosure.

Coward said: “I have always wanted to be on those scales and he was brilliant.

“My job was easy and he kept going as they went off quite quickly. I came round the bend and said ‘come on Crackentorp’ and away he went.

“I just thought ‘I’ve got to get there. This might be my only opportunity’. It is incredible to win here – even to get a ride (at York) is really special.

“It’s a brilliant racecourse. It has been very lucky to me and my family. It’s a race I have definitely wanted to win. It’s one of the best lady amateur races we have got.”

Easterby added: “I am delighted. He was third last year and it’s nice to get a runner in it.

“Jacqueline gave him a lovely ride. I kept ringing her up as she was on holiday in Portugal and she gave him a great ride.

“She rode him last year and he lost his way half-way through the race. She studied a bit and she knew what she was going to do.

“She had been riding well in point-to-points and this is fantastic.”

Lexi’s Hero (20-1) won the ‘dash for the cash’ in the £80,000 feature Bond Tyres Trophy.

Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan’s three-year-old made just about every yard of the six furlong sprint and prevailed by a length as a host of challengers lined up but could not get close.

Acclamazing and Cocktail Charlie dead-heated for second with Swiss Dream fourth.

Ryan said: “I am delighted for the horse. He can get a bit lazy in his work and I said to his jockey Jamie Spencer ‘just jump him out and make his mind up’. He’s done it to a tee.

“He is a talented horse and he put his heart and soul into that. There will be an easy month for him now and we’ll probably step up to a Listed race.”

Meanwhile, jockey Ryan Moore rode an incredible 686.5-1 five-timer through the rest of the card.

He scored on Confront (8-1) in the Ladbrokes.com Stakes and odds-on shots Sea Moon (4-6 fav) in the Give Generously To Macmillan Stakes and Swiss Spirit (4-6 fav) in the Reg Griffin Appreciation EBF Maiden Stakes.

My Son Max (4-1) made it four in the York Race Committee Classified Stakes before Entitled (9-2) won the closing Charles Henry Memorial Stakes.