Winner finds pliant centre in saddle spot? (8)
I believe the answer is:
victoria
'saddle spot?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'winner finds pliant centre' is the wordplay.
'winner' becomes 'victor' (synonyms).
'finds' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'centre' says to take the centre.
The central letters of 'pliant' are 'ia'.
'victor'+'ia'='VICTORIA'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for victoria that I've seen before include "Monarch" , "Queen (eighteen thirty seven to nineteen hundred and one)" , "Queenly" , "Queen and Falls" , "place where one may be stationed?" .)