Run gently or backwards in a race (4)
I believe the answer is:
trot
'run gently' is the definition.
'trot' can be an answer for 'run' (trotting is a kind of running). I'm not sure about the 'gently' bit.
'or backwards in a race' is the wordplay.
'backwards' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'a race' becomes 'tt'.
'or' written backwards gives 'ro'.
'ro' inserted into 'tt' is 'TROT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for trot that I've seen before include "Radical socialist (abbr) - horse gait" , "Clip (horse)" , "Go at steady pace" , "(Horse's) pace faster than a walk" , "Gait between a walk and a canter" .)