Liking to excel (5)
I believe the answer is:
shine
This clue is a double definition.
'liking' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'excel' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for shine that I've seen before include "Gleam, glisten" , "Glimmer" , "Give out light; polish" , "Glint" , "Administrator for monarch who is a minor" .)