CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Source of fine piece in standard bill (7,6) 9 Frenchman pair backed in Lincolnshire town is braggart (9) 10 High ball one enjoys getting down in sport (5) 11 Sluggish trainer tires somewhat (5) 12 Period of service in sunless French city (4) 13 Musicians not allowed to be heard (4) 15 High-flier from Russia or Georgia with mobile I rang (7) 17 Journalist provided with diamonds in town hall perhaps (7) 18 Support horse close to race, not yet fully formed? (7) 20 Sailor confronts blokes after party, showing guts? (7) 21 Very small element with unknown character (4) 22 Daily attraction falling short (4) 23 Unspoken work of diplomat touring India (5) 26 Award mostly established with a pot? (5) 27 Bird, fish and insect (9) 28 Fear about lard in a cooking method to achieve a solution (5,3,5)
DOWN
1 Place where everyone turns out for a party? (7,7) 2 Origin, it’s said, in regular journey (5) 3 I should appear before time alarm goes off? It’s unimportant (10) 4 One putting away a large amount? (7) 5 Popular hotel on river within a company (2-5) 6 Neck in stork is stretched (4) 7 Bishop in mistrial stirred primitive allegiance? (9) 8 Catch slanderer that’s upset older lover (6-8) 14 Frenchman embracing girlfriend’s home from home? (4-1-5) 16 Place for putting punch — vulnerable area that needs protection (5,4) 19 At work, I teach learner what’s right (7) 20 A devotee eating mostly staple food from Kenya? (7) 24 Something to sit on right after tea (5) 25 Distribution halved in food outlet (4)