The days of quality horses like Arkle and Flyingbolt winning the Goulding Thyestes Chase may be long gone, but resilience will be the number one priority at Gowran today and Calladine looks up to that demand.
Calladine is one of the novice brigade lining up for the traditional handicap highlight which will be just as gruelling as ever on the prevailing "heavy" ground.
But inexperience didn't prove any barrier to Keepatem coming out on top in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas, and Calladine ties right in with that kind of form having just failed to beat Keepatem in a Beginners Chase at Downpatrick in November.
After that, Christy Roche's horse went to Clonmel and managed to overhaul the stamina-packed Lincam on the run-in to the tune of five lengths.
Lincam has since finally won his first chase at Fairyhouse, and could well play a part here, too, today as he is first reserve for the race.
Charlie Swan also fields the 2002 winner This Is Serious as well as Over The First, but in these conditions, Lincam, who is 3lb better in with Calladine, could be his best option if getting a run.
Bizet's New Year's Day success at Fairyhouse has resulted in a 12lb hike in the ratings, but he will still be a factor in many calculations.
Nevertheless, Calladine's bare form over fences this season has started to read better all the time, and six years after first tasting big race success in the 1999 Dennys Hurdle he can also pick up one of the most competitive handicaps of the winter.
Only four horses are scheduled to run in the Alo Duffin Galmoy Hurdle, but it looks a fascinating contest with Emotional Moment looking to follow up a Grade Two success at Leopardstown over Christmas.
That distance defeat of Yogi, with Rosaker pulled up, means Tom Taaffe's horse is a general 20 to 1 shot for Cheltenham's Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
But Rosaker was clearly wrong that day, and the joker in the pack looks to be the novice Homer Wells, who beat Sweet Kiln at Naas and who will relish this testing three miles.
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh can also successfully team up in the opener with Diaconate, who should come on for a fourth to Grangehill Dancer at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.
Island Pride is on a hat-trick mission in the two and a half mile handicap chase but after winning twice at the minimum distance he could be vulnerable at this trip and with a 6lb penalty. In the testing conditions, Paul Carberry's mount Moss Bawn may be a better option.
