CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Combining two illegal drugs makes one crazy (8) 6 Spot daughter with fruit (6) 9 Drive home in brougham merrily (6) 10 Excited to get in live coverage after a dip (8) 11 Suave type, one captivated by

some hot dancing (8) 12 Hard men trap insect (6) 13 Imprison lawyer in gambling organisation that’s state of the art (4,2-2-4) 16 French art links two fish — a point used in the main (7-5) 19 Visually tired by keeping king in play (6) 21 Chemical compound produced from aluminium and potassium mixed with other metals we hear (8) 23 An ant kit adapted for use against armoured vehicles (4-4) 24 Provoke to riot, perhaps, able to be seen when broadcast (6) 25 Physicist showing unaccustomed weight (6) 26 Government books supplying lot of soldiers (8)

DOWN

2 Subjects of genuine document (6) 3 Appeared ordinary in small part (5) 4 Classic venue for women entertained by country music queen (9) 5 Pictorial representation accomplished with gold after time (7) 6 Germany long in depression (5) 7 Tiger and pard shot as sort of game (9) 8 Trio belt out words from opera (8) 13 Traditional singer of considerable weight embracing girl briefly (9) 14 Left enthralled by lookalike monarch for brief moment (9) 15 Standard way to get round initially common manner of speaking (8) 17 Strike sovereign or pound (7) 18 Youngster with knowledge about one set of races (6) 20 Desire indefinite time in history? (5) 22 Doctor upset Greek character with pass (5)

Across: 1 Cactus, 5 Well said, 9 Cor Anglais, 10 Rapt, 1 Backlash1, 12 Let Out, 13 Esau, 15 Reserved, 18 Footpath, 19 Gate, 21 Spruce, 23 Spinster, 25 Mere, 26 Spoonerism, 27 Held Firm, 28 Euro-mp.

LAST WEEKEND’S SOLUTION:

Down: 2 Aroma, 3 Tracksuit, 4 Signal, 5 Weather the Storm, 6 Listless, 7 Sprat, 8 Imprudent, 14 Showpiece, 16 Registrar, 17 Water-ski, 20 Fiance, 22 Upend, 24 Epsom.