Chicago Critic

The most eye-catching detail in his profile is what happens when you put him over a mile and a furlong to a mile and two furlongs. At that distance, he has won 3 from 9 races — that's 1 in every 3, which is a dramatically better record than his overall numbers suggest. Plenty of horses have a preferred trip, but when the gap is that stark, it's not a coincidence. It means the team knows exactly what they're doing when they find him the right race.

He's also made Naas something of a personal hunting ground. Two wins from four races there is a 50% record — genuinely exceptional for any horse at any level. The track clearly suits him, and his first career win came there back in October 2023, so there's history between him and that course. Naas might be a relatively quiet venue to the uninitiated, but for Chicago Critic it's where he does his best work.

His regular partner is jockey Ben Coen, and the numbers back up why the combination keeps being put together. Coen has been aboard for all three of Chicago Critic's wins from their 15 races together — a win rate of 1 in 5, which is noticeably better than the horse's overall average. Behind them in the yard is trainer J P Murtagh, based in Co Kildare, whose operation has sent out 56 winners already this season — a yard clearly in form and firing.

The honest caveat is that Chicago Critic hasn't won in his last six races, with his most recent success coming at Leopardstown back in May 2025. His recent form — mostly mid-pack finishes — suggests he hasn't quite clicked back into gear yet. But he raced just 23 days ago, so he's active and the team clearly believes there's another win in him. Given what he can do at his best distance, and over a track like Naas, they're probably right to keep the faith.