One often has to take a chance when the racing is tricky and find a banker for all exotic bets, and in that regard a folk song comes to mind - ``So here’s to you, my rambling boy, may all your rambling bring you joy.’’

Hopefully that’s exactly what will happen in Race 6, a MR 66 Handicap over the straight 1600m, in which Dianne Stenger sends out Rambling Boy. The four-year-old Muhtafal gelding is currently in excellent form and has done well at this track.

Of more importance is that Rambling Boy appears to have taken a liking to apprentice Nooresh Juglall. He has ridden the gelding in three of his last four starts for a win, a second and a third, all on this Vaal track. There is a second benefit in using Juglall in that he takes 2.5kg off the back of the Stenger runner.

Rambling Boy’s only poor performance in recent months came in a 2600m race run in yielding going on the Turffontein inside track but that distance was probably too far for him so is best ignored. Two runs back he came with a late charge to mow down Uyagiya and win going away by 0.50 lengths. His last start was over 1800m at this track and, once again, he finished strongly in failing by 2.50 lengths to get on terms with Reflector.

The runner best weighted to beat Rambling Boy is Victory Belt. The pair met over this track and trip on 20 May in the race won by Rambling Boy. Victory Belt ran seventh, 3.50 lengths back and is now 4kg better off. In addition, Chris Erasmus’ runner has the advantage of having Piere Strydom in the irons.

Victory Belt raced over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday last week but clearly found the distance too far and trailed in 15 lengths behind Dream Times. He will find this distance more to his liking but the manner in which Rambling Boy was going away from the field in that race indicates that neither the 4kg swing nor Strydom will be enough to see him reverse the form.

Rev Counter also raced last Saturday when she came up against stable companion Palermo Rosa, who was well supported in the betting and was clearly the better fancied of the pair. She takes on the boys in this race and it is difficult to see this six-year-old mare being able to successfully concede 3kg to Rambling Boy.

So, even though his form is probably a touch better on the sand and he has yet to place over 1600m, Rev Counter’s stable companion Cappie could be the right one from the Sean Tarry yard. He has won over 1400m at this course as well as 1450m on the sand so 1600m should be within his ambit.

He is carded to be ridden by Gavin Lerena, who will be having his first race-rides back following an operation to remove of some cartilage from his right knee.

Outplay is another filly taking on the colts and she may also battle in this company, especially as she has developed a tendency to play up at the start. She did run a 0.75-length second to Qui Duel in her first attempt over 1600m on the Turffontein inside track but they go a lot quicker over this straight ``mile’’ and it is uncertain whether she will see it out in this company.

So on close analysis Rambling Boy stands out as the runner they will all have to beat - and hopefully, as the song says, following him will bring joy.