Chiefly Horse Racing. A likely success; an excellent opportunity for gain; spec. a horse that is very likely to win a race; a certainty.

Horse Racing, etc. The competitor or competing animal generally favoured or ‘fancied’, as being most likely to win.

colloquial (now Australian). A competitor, esp. a racehorse, likely or generally favoured to win; the favourite in a contest; a person in a strong or…

A certainty (esp. in a dead cert); spec. in horse racing, a horse that is considered certain to win.

Horse Racing. The horse or horses selected by a racing prophet as likely to win or obtain a place.

Chiefly Horse Racing. A tipster's prediction of the horse (or greyhound) most likely to win its race on a particular day; the animal so tipped; a…

= sense 3a.

U.S. Horse Racing slang. A horse that seems a certain winner.

In Horse Racing, a predetermined or ‘fixed’ race, or the winner of it. Hence loosely, a horse which is a certain winner.