The Pug

The sweet spot for The Pug is a distance of around a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs — middle distances where stamina starts to matter. At that range, the record sharpens up considerably: 4 wins from 24 races, meaning it wins roughly 1 in every 6, which is a much more respectable return than the overall figures suggest. The lesson is simple — put this horse in the right race at the right distance, and it becomes a different proposition.

The track to watch is Southwell, an all-weather circuit in Nottinghamshire. Two wins from 7 races there might not sound extraordinary, but compare it to the overall win rate and it stands out clearly. Something about that track suits The Pug, and trainers and punters who know the horse well will always take notice when Southwell appears on the agenda.

Micky Hammond trains out of Middleham in North Yorkshire, one of British racing's most historic training centres, tucked into the Yorkshire Dales. His yard has sent out 24 winners already this season, so this is an active, functioning operation rather than a quiet backwater. Regular jockey Rob Hornby has ridden The Pug in 9 of its races, winning once together — roughly 1 win in every 9 rides.

The most recent win came at Ffos Las in Wales on 22 August 2025, now seven months ago, and the last six results — a string of fourth and seventh-place finishes — show a horse searching for form rather than finding it. That said, The Pug raced just yesterday, which means it remains very much in training and in contention. The first career win came at Lingfield Park in January 2023, and there have been three more since. This is a horse that wins infrequently but reliably enough to keep the yard interested — the right track, the right trip, and The Pug is always worth a second look.