Crossword Genius

Member of aristocracy leads part of NI in preparation for event (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

countdown

'preparation for event' is the definition.
(the countdown to an event)

'member of aristocracy leads part of ni' is the wordplay.
'member of aristocracy' becomes 'count' (count is a type of aristocrat).
'leads' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'part of ni' becomes 'down' (County Down, part of Northern Ireland).
'count'+'down'='COUNTDOWN'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for countdown that I've seen before include "Three, two, one - launch spacecraft" , "5-4-3-2-1" , "The reckoning" , "Final timing for launching spacecraft" , "prelude to firing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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