Back from the brink Kryptos delivers after dice with death

Kryptos, who made late ground to win on his second start for John Berry at Chester on Saturday, owes his life to the swift action of vets after he suffered a twisted gut earlier this year.

The three-year-old was bought to race for long-standing Berry owner Tony Fordham after finishing down the field in two runs for Dermot Weld last year.

Berry's wife Emma explained on Sunday: "He came in from exercise one morning and he was suddenly hurling himself around his box in agony after having a roll. He was in lots of pain – it was so sudden.

"Our vets came out very quickly and they thought it was a twisted gut. We got him onto the horsebox but it took a couple of us to hold him up in the back, even with painkillers. Surgeon Mark Hillyer operated straight away.

"Thankfully, because it happened so quickly, they were able to untwist the gut and put it back to normal. The operation was on February 1 and he has come on in leaps and bounds since."

'Thank God we were there'

Kryptos finished third at Newmarket on his stable debut and ran on strongly under Nicola Currie, after having to be switched, to win an apprentice handicap at Chester.

Berry added: "It was only his second run for John but we were expecting him to run well. It was a lovely result. We're very fortunate to have him.

"We've had horses with colic before but not a twisted gut. If he hadn't been treated, he could've died in agony so thank God we were there and got him to Newmarket Equine Hospital as quick as we could. Without them, he would be dead."

Result and analysis