Defectors act, disrupting Ascot (9)

I believe the answer is:

turncoats

'defectors' is the definition.
(turncoat is a kind of defector)

'act disrupting ascot' is the wordplay.
'act' becomes 'turn' (theatre).
'disrupting' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ascot' is an anagram of 'coats'.
'turn'+'coats'='TURNCOATS'

(Another definition for turncoats that I've seen is " Renegades".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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