Crossword Genius

A plane maybe circling popular race venue (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aintree

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'race venue' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'a plane maybe circling popular' is the wordplay.
'plane maybe' becomes 'tree' (plane is a type of tree).
'circling' indicates putting letters inside (circling can mean going around or containing).
'popular' becomes 'in' (something that's 'in' is fashionable).
'a'+'tree'='atree'
'atree' enclosing 'in' is 'AINTREE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aintree that I've seen before include "Home of the Grand National" , "Grand National course" , "Venue of the Grand National race" , "National racecourse" , "Merseyside racecourse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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