Hi again.
Apparently this clue appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 12th March 2007.
I found explanations for the given answer ('present') on
Another Board (/i> ..
present is a time but not a "record time". There's a saying - "no time like the present" therefore unequalled.
and ...
I think this refers to the saying "There's no time like the present".
Hope this helps!!
JimC