I don't remember the actual words of the clue but wasn't it something like "Who is in front?" So it is asking who is in the lead or to put it another way a leading question.
Agree with the above + have posted this crossword so also forget the exact clue yet DaisyMae was pretty accurate methinks:-)
Falcon23- btw, adore birds of prey, have an oil painting of a Kestrel in our house:-)