Take the lead in frantic duel with alpha (4,5)

I believe the answer is:

pull ahead

'take the lead' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'frantic duel with alpha' is the wordplay.
'frantic' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'duel'+'alpha'='duelalpha'
'duelalpha' anagrammed gives 'PULL AHEAD'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Another definition for pull ahead that I've seen is " Move into the lead".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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