Has it little chance of winning the photographic competition? (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
long shot
'photographic competition?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'has it little chance of winning' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found within the answer.
'little' could be 'l' (abbreviation for little) and 'l' is located in the answer.
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for long shot that I've seen before include "What paparazzi might get" , "Wild guess or venture - using rifle?" , "One has little chance of succeeding" , "improbable venture" , "An undertaking with little chance of success" .)