Raising the stake for hotly tipped runner (4)
I believe the answer is:
etna
'hotly tipped runner' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'raising the stake' is the wordplay.
'raising' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'the stake' becomes 'ante' (stake in poker).
'ante' in reverse letter order is 'ETNA'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for etna that I've seen before include "Neat volcano overturned" , "Long-term smoker" , "high peak" , "Active European volcano" , "Sicilian landmark" .)