BetVictor preview England's EURO 2016 and Friday's Oaks at Epsom

Roy Hodgson has gone with five strikers in his squad for Euro 2016 as the Three Lions bid to end 50 years of hurt next month in France.

BetVictor make England skipper Wayne Rooney an 8/1 chance to be lifting silverware aloft on July 10 with the Manchester United striker 4/1 to be the Three Lions’ leading goalscorer during the competition and 40/1 for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

England’s squad is the youngest ever recorded for the national side, with seven players under the age of 23 as Roy gives youth a chance to shine in France; does that mean curtains for the skipper?

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The change in direction comes in stark contrast to previous regimes and there is likely to be a ‘changing of the guard’ as this summer’s squad gains the deserved opportunity to finally move on from the so called ‘golden generation’ of a decade earlier.

Euro 2016 Outright prices from BetVictor:

France 3/1

Germany 7/2

Spain 11/2

England 8/1

Belgium 10/1

Italy 16/1

Portugal 20/1

Croatia 25/1

40/1 Bar

Marcus Rashford booked his ticket to the Euros scoring against Australia at the weekend, and has been included at the expense of Danny Drinkwater and Andros Townsend.

The teenager mirrors team-mate Wayne Rooney bursting on the scene back in 2004 and is 16/1 with BetVictor to start against Russia on June 11 but a perhaps more appealing 10/1 to be England’s leading scorer and 80/1 to be this summer’s leading marksman.

England were as big as double their current price this time 12 months ago but, as is often the case, national pride sways punters into backing the Three Lions, and they are only bettered by hosts France, World Champions Germany and defending Champions Spain.

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After being friendless earlier in the year punters have latched onto the Spanish as being over-priced and they have been clipped into 11/2 from 7s with Italy and Portugal two further lively outsiders at 16/1 (from 20s) and 20/1 (From 25s).

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Liverpool midfielder James Milner was named the fifth best player in the competition based on a UEFA coefficient that looked at players’ performance at the climax of the season and the man dubbed ‘boring’ by half of social media is 6/4 to start against Russia next Saturday and 25/1 to be England’s leading scorer this summer.

Elsewhere, Minding heads a field of 9 fillies’ for Friday’s Oaks at Epsom with Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas winner the 4/5 favourite to secure a second classic under Ryan Moore.

The daughter of Galileo was turned over at odds-on a fortnight ago at the Curragh in her quest to complete the English/Irish Guineas double but she undoubtedly had her excuses that day, banging her head leaving the stalls, and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by Epsom’s forecast good-to-soft ground.

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Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper reported that 22mm fell over the track overnight on Tuesday, which should make The Oaks a severe test of the stamina and it will be fascinating to see whether the dual Gp 1 winner stays the trip, stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time.

Stablemate Somehow (4.30) is guaranteed to stay the trip however and can reward each-way support under Seamie Heffernan. The selection built on an excellent maiden success in the Cheshire Oaks last month at Chester and is bred to relish a mile and a half around Epsom.

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Another bred for the job is Ulysses (4.30); by Derby winner Galileo and out of the Oaks winner Light Shift and very well backed to follow in her parents’ illustrious hoove-prints.

The colt had subsequent London Gold Cup winner Imperial Aviator, 10/1 with BetVictor for Sunday’s French Derby at Chantilly, in behind when storming clear in a hot Newbury maiden and after getting the nod to take his chance in Saturday’s £1.45million contest has been backed from 14/1 into 11/2 third favourite for the mile and a half classic.

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It marks a massive step up in grade but trainer Sir Michael Stoute doesn’t often tilt at windmills and he can likewise reward each-way support under Andrea Atzeni.

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com