Banbury trainer Ben Case plans to aim stable star Dance Island at next month’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The seven-year-old gelding was among around 20 horses the handler paraded in the indoor school at his Wardington Gate Farm stables, near Edgcote, at his owners’ open day on Sunday.

Dance Island won a Chepstow handicap hurdle and a Warwick novices’ chase last term, before finishing second to the classy Burton Port in the Grade 2 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

“He is a nice horse,” said Case. “He jumps and stays and he has done nothing wrong over fences. He was always going to be a better chaser than hurdler.”

The Edgcote handler is looking at giving Dance Island his seasonal debut in either a Pertemps Hurdle qualifer or a handicap chase at Cheltenham on Friday week, with a crack at Newbury’s autumn showpiece on November 27 his early-season target.

“It just depends on whether he gets into the handicap, but I plan to make an entry in the Hennessy with the likes of Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander seemingly not going there according to their trainers,” he added.

“Second-season novices have quite a good record in the race.”

Case is also hopeful of enjoying success with Phare Isle, who was placed three times over hurdles last season and could reappear at either Cheltenham’s opening meeting or Aintree the following week.

Thoresby, a four-year-old who showed promise in two bumpers last season, is another the trainer believes should have a good future.

He runs in the colours of estate owner David Allen, who also has Edgefour, a winner of two hurdles, who Case gives an each-way chance to at Worcester today.

Looking ahead to the season, Case has no firm targets.

“We are a small stable,” he said. “We had our best year last year as far as prize money is concerned and we will be trying to improve on that.”

At the same time, his business is supported by his knack of spotting foals before selling them on.

They include Time For Rupert, the star of Paul Webber’s nearby Mollington stables, and a three-year-old son of Westerner out of Rose of Inchiquin, who made the top lot of €325,000 at the Derby Sale at Fairyhouse in June.