King Edward VII Stakes 2025 Preview – Runners Guide to Royal Ascot Equivalent of The Derby

On the penultimate day of Royal Ascot, the King Edward VII Stakes of 2025 acts as a chief supporting race. Although there are two Group 1s on the Friday, 20 June card, this Group 2 test over a mile-and-a-half for three-year-old colts and geldings has its own place in history.

Known from its early history as the Ascot Derby, the race honours a British monarch who loved his racing. Among 11 declaration in it this year are Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc and Wathnan Racing purchase Opportunity. This pair finished first and fourth in Goodwood’s Cocked Hat Stakes.

Chester Vase third Convergent had no idea what he was up against on the Roodee for Karl Burke, meanwhile, as the front two went on to fill the same spots in The Derby at Epson. Speaking of the Premier Classic, also-rans Green Storm and Nightwalker lower their sights a little here.

Aidan O’Brien sends two over from Ireland in Lingfield winner Puppet Master and Galveston. Johnny Murtagh completes the Emerald Isle challenge in the King Edward VII Stakes of 2025 with the Aga Khan Studs’ Zarhann.

James Owen, meanwhile, saddles Wimbledon Hawkeye for the Gredley family. Completing the field are Andrew Balding’s Regal Ulixes and Ismail Mohammed inmate Minhad. Guidnig you through these colts and gelding are our experts.

They know all the form backwards and can spot value prices with horse racing betting sites in the UK and Ireland. Read on to see profiles of every entrant, plus our experts’ shortlist and verdict on the Ascot Derby.

King Edward VII Stakes 2025 Runners Guide

1. Amiloc

Amiloc makes it four out of four after landing a convincing victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes for Richard Kingscote and Ralph Beckett @BritishEBF pic.twitter.com/NNegA8Rg9j

— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) May 24, 2025

Unbeaten gelding who took sequence to four when landing Listed event over 1m 3f around Goodwood latest. Did all his best work at the business end of the race. Connections run here, rather than the Queen’s Vase, so big vote of confidence over an extra furlong. A worthy favourite.

2. Convergent

Bumped into the Epsom Derby 1-2 when third in the Chester Vase latest. Unbeaten going into last month’s run and his form obviously franked in spades from the Roodee. Great each-way bet from among the King Edward VII Stakes 2025 runners this year.

3. Galveston

Dual Naas winner taking a marked step up in Class. Could be a pacemaker for stable companion Puppet Master. Looks a somewhat distant Ballydoyle second string to that one.

4. Green Storm

Seventh in The Derby latest and twice placed in Group races as a juvenile. This trip looks a stretch for him on pedigree, so others in the King Edward VII Stakes of 2025 having more going for them.

5. Minhad

No match for Opportunity at Haydock on penultimate outing, but has come out and landed Newmarket novice latest. Only did just enough to win and tons to find with the market principals on official figures. Discounted.

6. Nightwalker

Ended last season and began this term with third places at Newmarket. Rallying fifth in the Dante Stakes at York, then didn’t fire in The Derby latest. First-time blinkers go on and, if they work, he’s one of the King Edward VII Stakes runners in 2025 to note. Not certain to get this far on breeding, though.

7. Opportunity

Beat subsequent Queen’s Vase third Rahiebb at Haydock with Minhad in behind. Unlucky in-running fourth in the Cocked Hat won by Amiloc latest. Found no way through, but made late gains and could easily finish closer to the favourite. Dark horse.

8. Puppet Master

Short-head winner of an official trial for The Derby latest. Didn’t go to Epsom, however, and saved for the King Edward VII Stakes of 2025 instead. Open to further progress at this trip and one for the shortlist.

9. Regal Ulixes

Comfortable winner of Newbury mile and Doncaster mile-and-a-quarter novices. Now takes marked step up in grade. Pedigree raises questions about whether he’ll stay this far, but represents a top yard.

10. Wimbledon Hawkeye

Group 2 winning miler as a juvenile. Chased home Field Of Gold in the Craven on reappearance, then only fifth in the 2000 Guineas with all of these runs at Newmarket. Faded into third in the Dante Stakes latest. Top on ratings for the King Edward VII Stakes of 2025, but needs all of his damsire’s stamina to win this.

11. Zahrann

Leopardstown Listed success latest when coming from last to first. Hard not to be impressed by this display when stepped up to this trip for the first time. Another for the shortlist.

King Edward VII Stakes 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

Beckett has hopefully made the right call in running AMILOC here instead of the Queen’s Vase. He really did come home well in the Cocked Hat Stakes and an extra furlong looks no bother to him. If the favourite doesn’t fire, then the obvious dangers are Irish raiders Puppet Master and Zarhann.

Both are Listed winners like the selection. At bigger odds, Convergent looks a good each-way punt with his Chester form working out very nicely. The dark horse in this renewal, meanwhile, is Opportunity after that luckless run in-behind Amiloc at Goodwood last time.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee