Crossword Genius

Excellent batches oddly abandoned (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ace

'excellent' is the definition.
(ace can informally mean very good)

'batches oddly abandoned' is the wordplay.
'oddly abandoned' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions removed).
The alternating letters of 'batches' are 'ACE'.

(Other definitions for ace that I've seen before include "unit > of highest quality" , "SERVE?] that's non-returnable" , "Winning serve; hole in one" , "Best type of tennis serve" , "star" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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