CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7. Goes into battle to skate round the rest of the runners (5,3,5) 8. Plant grown from seed we mow at random (6-5) 12. Two might clue short opus like this (6) 14. Sort of tyre laid with a right to return it (6) 16. Ship’s fuel compartment may be a hazard (6) 18. Convent under abbey or one maybe to pry about (6) 19. They live abroad or exist − are apt to change, though (11) 23. Enlargement due to magic, if nation turns to it (13)

DOWN

1. Producer of coconuts is a handy thing to have in front (4) 2. Sort of hill looks the same when switching halves (4) 3. Man in boat has an attack of apoplexy (6) 4. It’s not so important to see about Stevenson initially (6) 5. A dossier about life (4) 6. A place to build to put it on the map (4) 9. Almost horsy beast of burden appears twice a year (7) 10. Incident in play by Poe dies out (7) 11. A game manoeuvre by Palestinians at start of Yom Kippur (4) 12. Lump of sugar to multiply by itself, and again (4) 13. Shelter the fish that turns up (3) 15. The appearance of the song we breathe (3) 17. Approve and sanction it in the fray anyhow (6) 18. One of the first rank involved in pincer movement (6) 19. What pupil sits in Essex − a major entry (4) 20. Make a serrated edge on a huntsman’s coat (4) 21. Half-tuck taken twice if it’s to skirt a dancer (4) 22. How’s the tail-ender come first in a theatrical production? (4)