Race to order cheapest eels (12)
I believe the answer is:
steeplechase
'race' is the definition.
(steeplechase is a kind of race)
'order cheapest eels' is the wordplay.
'order' is an anagram indicator.
'cheapest'+'eels'='cheapesteels'
'cheapesteels' anagrammed gives 'STEEPLECHASE'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for steeplechase that I've seen before include "Horse race with jumps and ditches" , "Running event over hurdles and water jumps" , "Horse race with ditches and hedges" , "Race over fences" , "Type of horse race" .)