CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

2. How a bird of prey will swoop down and be condescending (5)

5. Being in a frenzy, a donkey won’t quite make it (4)

7. It’s true: it will play its part loudly to begin with (4)

8. Grub is in preparation, making it black and blue (8)

9. Jet creed was mistaken, so wouldn’t be accepted (8)

11. It is not decent to be so soundly regretted (4)

12. One looking out of window before serious play begins? (7-6)

15. There are two for one in the expected number of strokes (4)

17. A split occurred when I’d got back by sight (8)

19. At long last it happened to leave NUT anyhow (8)

21. It’s painful for one to be taken in by a throwback (4)

22. Beat the tail-ender in a pea-souper (4)

23. If you put your foot down, tyre pattern will appear (5)

DOWN

1. Back-up including a late place that’s high and flat (7)

2. Italian says yes to first Tory to take his place in Parliament (3)

3. Gold coin shows the satellite track (5)

4. Carry off the goods and quietly wash them after a loss (7)

5. Not being clever, he made a girl lose her head (3)

6. Was in possession of the law, finally, in having done wrong (5)

10. Go inside to write it up (5)

11. Uses reproachful language with such birds (5)

13. Bound it in such a way that the outcome was uncertain (2,5)

14. East was given a reason to act that tended to arouse feelings (7)

16. What smith strikes is a chorus from opera (5)

18. Think highly of something, for what it’s worth (5)

20. A horse continually to find fault with (3)

21. It’s rotten to have no hair, and lose first love (3)