Winner in the polls for those seeking sun? (3,9)

I believe the answer is:

hot favourite

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'winner' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Tipped winner ' mean 'hot favourite' so perhaps 'winner' could also mean 'hot favourite')

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for hot favourite that I've seen before include "Expected winner" , "Near certainty" , "Tipped winner" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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