JAMES Doyle has acclaimed Poet's Word as one of the "toughest horses he has ridden" ahead of a high-class Juddmonte International at York Racecourse tomorrow.

Sir Michael Stoute's stable star, who has already won the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the King George this season, is one of eight runners in what looks set to be one of the races of the year.

"He's a worthy favourite coming off the back of successive Group One wins in tough races and, as you can imagine, I'm excited about riding him in the top race of week," said Doyle.

"He's as tough a horse as I've ever ridden - he doesn't shirk the issue. He really put his head and neck down in the King George and stretched all the way to the line. He was very brave."

Doyle does not see the issue of dropping back down in trip causing a problem, either.

"He's versatile and showed a good kick in the Prince of Wales's," said the jockey ahead of the latest leg of the Qipco British Champions Series.

"He's got plenty of other good form over a mile and quarter, too, such as when beaten a neck in the Irish Champion Stakes."

Elsewhere on the opening day of the Ebor Festival, there will be St Leger clues aplenty in a strong-looking nine-runner Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien runs Kew Gardens, a Group One winner in France, for which he carries a penalty. He has already won at Royal Ascot over the St Leger trip.

O'Brien's four-strong team is completed by Nelson, The Pentagon and Zabriskie.

Tim Easterby's Wells Farhh Go threw his hat into the Leger ring when winning the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time. He was also successful in the Acomb Stakes at this meeting last season.

Charlie Appleby has two strong contenders in Old Persian, who will be ridden by James Doyle, and Cross Counter, the mount of William Buick.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with Sevenna Star, not seen since disappointing in the Derby, while the field is completed by MC Muldoon, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam.