The Pug

The Pug does its best work over a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs — essentially middle-distance races that suit a horse that needs time to warm up and find its stride. Across 25 races at that distance it has won 4 times, a win rate of 16%, or roughly 1 in every 6. That might not sound spectacular, but in context it means the distance genuinely unlocks something. The track that brings out the best in it is Southwell, an all-weather venue in Nottinghamshire, where it has won 2 of its 7 races — nearly 1 in 3. For a horse with this profile, that kind of course form is worth knowing about.

Trained by Micky Hammond at his yard in Middleham, North Yorkshire — one of the sport's great training villages — The Pug is part of a setup that has sent out 31 winners already this season, so the team clearly knows what it is doing. Rob Hornby rides it most often, partnering the horse in 9 races with 1 win between them, a rate of around 1 in 9.

The last win came at Ffos Las on 22 August 2025, nearly 10 months ago, and the six runs since have brought a best finish of third. The most recent run was just yesterday, so The Pug is very much in active campaigning mode — the team is not giving up on finding another winning opportunity. At six years old, this horse is not young, but it is not finished either. The profile here is a reliable lower-tier competitor that has a clear preference for a certain trip, thrives at Southwell, and occasionally finds the right race. That is a narrow window, but experienced trainers are good at spotting when it is about to open.