GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO. 27,493

ACROSS

1 Back copies marked

and sorted out (9) 6 Solid 19 scored by youngster at end of race (4) 8 Transport for Conservative replacing miners’ leader in union (8) 9 Caught church official about to snort a line (6) 10 Leave last of apples

out of pudding (6) 11 Research covering fine new creative work about to change (8) 12 Check soldiers with impressive muscles (6) 15 Tiny tree developed for a very long time (8) 16 Clean clothes taken back to the French ship (8) 19 Conservative’s “question and answer” tour’s ending in the Home Counties (6) 21 Sticky stuff coating

sickly sweet (8) 22 Unconventional kind of college admitting shady group (6) 24 Instrument for changing

oil into French wine (6) 25 Experienced soprano helped to carry Oberon’s wings (8) 26 Brave US agent retired

on the Fourth of July (4) 27 Animal bloodline interrupted by new obstacle (9)

DOWN

1 Old table top found amongst discounted items (5) 2 Drug dropped in normal place for someone not yet accepted (7) 3 Cook a sort

of dish (5) 4 Mad hatter drinking limitless tea in operational part of hospital (7) 5 Muck found on a prophet turning up in overalls (9) 6 Bloody chamber vacated by setter’s relative (7) 7 Ale-drinking achievement by English yeoman (9) 13 Space on island found during time of stress (9) 14 European eating almost half of elusive meal (4,5) 17 Quite small child getting supporter (7) 18 Relative stops worrying about English name (7) 20 Vessel containing coin exchanged for fabulous creature (7) 22 Lecturer entering fine faculty (5) 23 Bird nesting in icebergs going north (5)