thetimescrosswords

ACROSS

1 Fail to locate article between

sink pipes (2,4,3,5) 9 Something for the drinker or

eater, perhaps, to raise (9) 10 One cuts a piece from the rightbone (5) 11 Achieving a nice round figure

from weight-lifting? (3-2) 12 Member regularly dragged outside and

beaten (9) 13 Firm agreement to earmark

work for chef? (8) 15 Concert being staged by Oxbridge? (6) 17 Flower clusters Cockney puts

down audience picks up (6) 19 Unravel why Reds initially livid

with judgement (8) 22 Organised crime by no means in

its earliest stages (9) 23 Tory Golden Boy (5) 24 Fabulous that old man rents flat out (5) 25 Fabled canine footprint in tiny

frames (3,3,3) 26 Petitions editor when magazine

produces content (7,2,5)

DOWN 1 Rock ensemble with huge influence and inner spark (6,8) 2 Digging underneath sink to find tap (3,4) 3 Put a hand under wide part of litter (5) 4 Small medicine dispensing unit to open as

originally planned (8) 5 Tongue tip to force leaf through ring (6) 6 Lift stakes, then put a new

fence at last (2,3,4) 7 Doctor cutting drug giving treats

to stop the rot (7) 8 Quiet fellow in military race making apology for trooper’s behaviour? (6,2,6) 14 Feminist’s disparaging remark

on a town in Ireland (9) 16 Chapters about eastern state —

a war-torn region (8) 18 Stump behind bat broken in rage (7) 20 Brown bear not quite finishing off saint (7) 21 Not so sure you remember it when you

reflect, finally (6) 23 X marks place spike’s taken out

Primate (5)

CRYPTIC SOLUTION TO 24417