| CALLFORTH | Evoke birdsong, not one of the top three we hear (4,5) |
| HORSERACE | What the puzzle's title refers to; the first parts of the starred entries, in clue order, give the order of the top three finishers |
| MEDALLIST | One of the top three celebs touring lake next to the sea (9) |
| MEDALLING | Landing in the top three, for an Olympian |
| LATERALLY | Not one of the earlier supporters in the side (9) |
| JAMPACKED | Conserve in jar, perhaps, right to the top (3-6) |
| MEDALIST | One of the top three, perhaps |
| DUTCH | Nationality of the top three anglers in Feederfest Ireland 2022 (5) |
| SLOWCOACH | Small blue vehicle certainly not one of the fleet (9) |
| IGNORAMUS | Amusing criminal carrying gold? Not one of the magi! (9) |
| OUTOFPLAY | In touch but not one of the cast (3,2,4) |
| GORBACHEV | Russian leader playing havoc with government and Brezhnev's top three |
| MEDALISTS | Top three finishers |
| SABRINACARPENTER | American singer, songwriter and actress who in 2024 became the first female artist to occupy the top three spots of the UK Singles Chart simultaneously for two consecutive weeks (7,9) |
| FOURTH | Possibly hurt of one below the top three (6) |
| NESS | There are three, we hear, in wettest north-eastern river (3) |
| RULEON | Get support in connection with three, we hear (4,2) |
| GOFORTH | Leave game after three, we hear (2,5) |
| LEAF | Page three we hear, it's on. (4) |
| HAVEL | Gustav, Czechoslovakian racer who took Jawa to the top three of the 350cc World Championship. (5) |
