MICHAEL STOUTE is the man to follow in this year's colts' Classics if the bookmakers are to be believed. The former champion trainer's Desert Story and Yalaientanee are prominent in the lists for the 2000 Guineas after victories in the Craven Stakes and Greenham Stakes respectively last week.

Furthermore, stable companion Entrepreneur is favourite for the Derby and close to top spot in betting on the Newmarket Classic, despite not having run this year.

"The over riding feature of the week's Classic trials has been the strong performance of Michael Stoute's colts and the huge confidence there seems to be in Entrepreneur," said Ladbrokes spokesman Ian Wassell. "The horse has fallen from 12 to 1 to 5 to 1 for the Guineas and 7 to 1 to 6 to 1 for the Derby without leaving his box."

William Hill spokesman David Hood added. "We have seen lorry loads of money for Entrepreneur (9 to 2 from 8 to 1 on Saturday morning) in the last 48 hours and we have had to trim him almost by the hour!

"This week's big race wins from Desert Story and Yalaientanee has led to Entrepreneur being backed off the boards simply by association."

Yalaietanee's head defeat of Revoque on Saturday capped a memorable three weeks for Stoute, who also took the Group Three John Porter Stakes on the same card at Newbury with Whitewater Affair.

Henry Cecil yesterday stressed he still believes deposed 1000 Guineas favourite Sleepytime has a great chance" in the first fillies Classic. The trainer does not blame new stable jockey Kieren Fallon for the three year old's odds on defeat in Friday's Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury.

"They went no gallop and she was caught in a vice then they quickened in the final half furlong so it wasn't a race for her," said Cecil.

"If Kieren had smashed his way out and won he might have hurt the filly and would have been banned for two weeks. Under the rules of racing there was nothing he could do."