Past it, he popped out, defeated at the last moment (6,2,3,4)
I believe the answer is:
pipped at the post
'defeated at the last moment' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pipped at the post that I've seen before include "seed?" , "Closely beaten" , "Beaten in the last stride" , "Narrowly beaten" , "Finally defeated" .)