The phrase "early frontrunner" refers to a candidate or competitor who is in the lead or is considered the most likely to succeed at an early stage of a competition or election. Full definition
Leonardo DiCaprio emerges as early frontrunner to play The Joker in new Martin Scorsese - produced film (nme.com)
These guys are All Sports Series vets at this point and I think they are among early frontrunners to take the 2014 Summer League College / Prep Crown.. (allsportsseries.com)
But it could just as easily struggle to find an audience and be forgotten even more quickly than supposed early frontrunner The Birth of a Nation was last year. (dvdizzy.com)