Daily crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1. A boy naturally opposed to the current trend (4)

8. Official title of great merit (10)

9. Status symbols? (8)

10. Drink when depressed (4)

12. Examines the accuracy of restaurant bills

(6)

14. Prevents a pair leaving for the races, perhaps (6)

15. A medium state, perhaps (6)

17. Answer which may be dispensed with (6)

18. It’s a wine that’s coming back (4)

19. Note a hundred still in a trance (8)

21. Aptly this job is to handle men to a T. (10)

22. Evict some impecunious tenants (4)

DOWN 2. The early morning air! (4,6)

3. A creature I follow, yet it’s never been seen (4)

4 Cakes figure on board (6)

5. Difference between a request and an order (6)

6. A double-first! (4,4) 7. A whole chapter may be devoted to him (4)

11. Do flying-fish use them? (5-5)

13. People on the course may not agree with him! (8)

16. Team the French enter late in the day (6) 17. Spread all over the place - that was rough! (6)

18. The purposes of firstclass writing (4)

20. A number given to someone to sing (4)