With the jumps season moving up a gear, Ben Case is looking to take another stride forward after his Edgcote stables, near Banbury, enjoyed their most successful campaign last term.

Now in his fifth season at Wardington Gate Farm, the 43-year-old trainer has increased the size, and he also feels the quality of his string.

In welcoming around 180 guests to his owners’ day last Sunday, he said: “We are slightly up on numbers this year, which is great news, and we have some nice horses to look forward to this season.”

Case may have had only six winners in the 2010-11 campaign, but it was his best since taking out a licence to train 12 years ago at a small yard adjoining nearby Edgcote House, with almost 50 per cent of his runners finishing in the first four.

And with ten seconds and 11 thirds, a little more luck could easily have seen him reach double figures.

More importantly, those six winners included his most high-profile success to date with Tempest River scoring at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April.

Sent off a 20-1 shot, the five-year-old provided a memorable day for the yard by landing the Listed John Smith’s Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race under Daryl Jacob.

The mare, who is entered at Cheltenham tomorrow and at Kempton on Sunday, took pride of place among 26 horses Case paraded in his huge indoor school.

“Her prime aim is to run in the mares’ hurdle at Newbury in the spring, but if she is anything better than that we would be delighted,” he said.

Big things were hoped for from Dance Island last term after a successful novice chase season.

After finishing a promising second to King Fontaine on his reappearance at Haydock, the eight-year-old was among the leading fancies for the Coral Welsh National only to be pulled up after blundering five fences from home.

“His form tailed off after the Welsh National, and he was not right last season,” said Case. “But he has had a long summer break and looks back to himself. He may be well handicapped.”

Dance Island is due to reappear in a chase at Bangor on Wednesday, November 9.

Among the younger horses, Case is excited by Orangeaday, who was third in a Ludlow bumper before finishing unplaced in a valuable contest at Fairyhouse.

“I think he will be a lovely prospect when he fills out his frame,” he added of the four-year-old, who could reappear at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He also gave a special mention to Ginger Fizz, who finished fourth in a Newbury bumper in March on her only start.

“She would be one to go close first time out this year,” he said.

With the likes of Handtheprizeover, a winner at Towcester and Leicester, who holds entries at Cheltenham tomorrow and Kempton on Sunday, and Phare Isle, among his string, Case is optimistic that he can improve on last season’s tally.

“Now we could do with more winners to push ourselves forward,” he added.