Blooming apple drink said to be no favourite (8)
I believe the answer is:
outsider
'be no favourite' is the definition.
(an outsider isn't the favourite in a race)
'blooming apple drink said' is the wordplay.
'blooming' becomes 'out' (plants which have bloomed are 'out').
'apple drink' becomes 'cider' (I've seen this before).
'said' shows a homophone (sound like).
'cider' sounds like 'sider'.
'out'+'sider'='OUTSIDER'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for outsider that I've seen before include "Not one of the in-crowd" , "Contestant who hasn't much of a chance" , "Someone excluded" , "expected to be unsuccessful" , "Unfancied competitor" .)