Mind Games

Crossword, Sudoku, the Quiz, Wordplay and more

Across

1. Delicate but showing a kind of flair (5)

4. Fair boss oddly tells lies (4) 6. Gall operation too much for racehorse (8)

12. Updated upholstery and felt better (9)

13. Did a trial run of funeral car with red exterior (9)

14. Art seen somehow to be serious (7)

15. Sells kites on the street? (5)

16. Relocate nine right near centre (5)

17. Put your hands together to catch humbug (8)

19. She is responsible for planning the course (9)

22. They hunt out and destroy pit workers using brooms (12)

23. What a nose does or perhaps a sweaty foot (6)

25. Show remorse for egret after rough start (6) 27. Contradictory but insistent about swindle (12)

31. Sound increase in score (9)

33. Ceremony allows Marge to take in fresh air (8)

35. Sneak out to get boa, for example (5)

36. Keep an eye on crew on duty (5)

37. Serviceman auctioned for cash? That’s right! (7)

40. Restore original bridle strap, say (9)

41. What wizards use to help them with spelling? (5,4)

42. They put their owners in the shade (8)

43 . Jim’s noisy fitness clubs (4)

44. Kind of spare weapon (5)

Down

1. Police officers’ power (5) 2. Find out for sure (9)

3. Bank where the French kept Eve (5)

4. Best friend becomes ship’s second-in-command (5,4) 5. Bud had to be converted to the Enlightened One (6)

7. I’ve followed up ad he’s found for glue (8)

8. Hopping can lead to leg pain (7) 9. Following birth, former South African province gets behind with mail (9)

10. It will catch you speeding no matter which way you approach it (5)

11. Formal part of house where artist sketches (7,4) 17. Scam bricklayer used to get fine linen (7)

18. Altered state of discernment (5)

20. Campaign badge used to steer change (7)

21. Astonished like a dentist’s patient (4-7)

24. Scrooge confuses me, sir (5)

26. Rereading about Buckingham Palace guard (9)

28. Asterisks seen on astrologer’s chart (4,5)

29. Get rid of acid found up in a tree strangely enough (9)

30. Sal flown out of blizzard (8)

32. They need to be ironed out (7)

34. Some show him sympathy with endearing quaintness (6) 35. Clumsy Rupert hides sticky liquid (5)

38. Rugby players with curls? (5)

39. Additional comment from cyclist (5)