Eldorado Allen secured his first victory in more than three years with an impressive front-running display in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday, silencing retirement talk in the most emphatic fashion.

The 11-year-old grey, sent off at 13/2 under Brendan Powell, made virtually all the running in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, meeting each fence on a near-perfect stride in an exhibition of how to jump fences. Talk of retirement had been mentioned at the end of last season, but he rewarded connections' decision to give him another campaign.

Turning for home, Can You Call and Mister Coffey emerged as potential challengers after Eldorado Allen made his sole blunder at the penultimate fence. But the gallant veteran quickly dispelled any doubts, scoring by four and a half lengths from Mister Coffey, with Can You Call a further length and a quarter back in third.

Trainer Joe Tizzard described Eldorado Allen as 'a pleasure to watch' after the victory, adding: "He hasn't won for three years, but he is always good fresh. He was just a pleasure to watch. The handicapper had finally given him a bit of a chance as he was eight pounds lower than the December race he ran in here last year".

The veteran still possesses the class that saw him finish third to Allaho in the 2022 Ryanair Chase and win the Grade Two Denman Chase earlier that season.

For Powell and the Tizzard team, it was a poignant success with a genuine horse who has given them so much over the years.