'Frustrating' The Pug finally wins as trainer closes in on his best season

Adrian Wintle is on course for his best year yet as a narrow win for The Pug in the 1m2f classified stakes put the Gloucestershire trainer just three winners shy of matching last season's record tally.

The 9-4 favourite has an unfortunate habit of throwing away races and gave supporters another scare as he held his head high in the closing stages. He was still able to secure a fourth win by a neck from Bobby Dassler.

That was win number 19 of 2025 for Wintle, who said: "I'm thrilled for the owners as they've been good supporters. However frustrating he's been, he's won well and Finley [Marsh] has given him a fantastic ride. He has more ability than he shows on the track but he is ultra consistent. He's just difficult to win with but this was the right race.

Wintle added: "It'd be lovely to beat last year's tally. We've just kept going nicely this season with winners here and there. It's been great, we tend to buy a lower-value horse but we do well with them and give owners value for money."

Group 2 clue

Two-year-old Lost Signal followed up his impressive Salisbury win under a penalty in the 7½f novice stakes for Richard Hannon and Alec Voikhansky.

Zhang Yuesheng's son of Lucky Vega has Group 2 entries in the Champagne Stakes, Mill Reef and Royal Lodge later this season and the 4-6 favourite travelled strongly but had to battle to hold off Magnatura by half a length.

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