### Clue: Brilliant odds against Close wearing a hat (8)
### Answer: SPLENDID 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Brilliant
 SP(abbrev. for "starting prices", the latest odds offered by books at the start of a horse race) **plus**(against) [END(close/finish) **contained in**(wearing) LID(informal term for a hat).
Defn: …/excellent!