JIMMY FORTUNE is confident Raven’s Pass can be a partypooper in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

John Gosden’s three-year-old has come up short four times at the top table this season, three times running behind Henrythenavigator and once chasing home Tamayuz in the Prix Jean Prat.

Both of those rivals are set to be in opposition at the weekend but Fortune is very pleased with the current condition of his mount and is hopeful his consistency will be rewarded.

Fortune said: “We are just very unfortunate that our lad is running in the year Henrythenavigator is around.

“We have met him three times and he has beaten us three times - albeit we have got closer every time we have met him. If he was not around, we would have the champion so it is just unlucky.

“His main aim is the Breeders’ Cup and the boss hasn’t overdone him for this race so he is probably a little bit heavier than he normally is.

“Having said that, I rode him work the other morning and he is in great form so I’m quietly confident he will run a very big race.

“He gets the mile well and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got further in time as he is nice and relaxed now.”

With pacemakers for Henrythenavigator and Tamayuz set to line-up at the weekend, Fortune is hoping the race is a truly-run affair and there are no hard luck stories.

“It’s always a bit messy when there are pacemakers as you are not just thinking about one horse, you are thinking about two or three.

“You start thinking about whether they will get in your way but as long as the race is run at a true gallop, it is normally fine.

“I am hoping the French pacemaker goes on as I would imagine Tamayuz will want a good gallop and that would help us too.”

Coral have seen strong support for Henrythenavigator and now make him their outright favourite for the race at 6-4, while Tamayuz is out to 13-8.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: “Having already won 20 Group 1s this year, it’s hardly surprising punters are backing Aidan O’Brien’s runner.

“If the ground at Ascot stays good, Henrythenavigator looks sure to remain at the head of the betting.”