Run rings around a brute (5)
I believe the answer is:
beast
'brute' is the definition.
(I know that brute can be written as beast)
'run rings around a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'best' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for beast that I've seen before include "Savage" , "Nasty type" , "Inhuman person" , "Wild animal" , "Brute; creature" .)