CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. How one gets ready to go for lots of hounds (5)

4. Weapon to make one yearn for old pottery (7)

8. Between a hundred and a thousand, a card game at university (9)

9. Would you decide finals should be settled now? (3)

10. One to give backing of spoons, perhaps, right at the end (7) 12. Sleeveless garment is used to wrap Academician backwards (4)

14. Got hold of broken red cues (7)

17. A final word shows the writer to be in an outer part (4)

18. Leonardo's David not finished with state, one concluded (2,5) 20. Something warm and snug, bug-wise (3) 21. Hat or belt used for engagement perhaps (9) 23. To find Tarka in extremes of luxury is a matter of chance (7) 24. What dicer will do is to count as success for wrestler (5)

Down

1. Chooses an arrow for crossbow and starts a fight (5,1,7)

2. It's not a rare thing to be found at Wimbledon (6)

3. Accentuates strains associated with modern living (8)

4. Liberal, Independent and Democratic leaders have it on top (3)

5. They vote against the East in small numbers (4)

6. Where to lie and hit out at the madhouse (6)

7. In tears, the bat leaves trailing therefrom (7,6)

11. A single shot making eighteen holes? (5) 13. Don't include service holiday on being dismissed (5,3)

15. The utmost degree of one's stature (6)

16. Nor with an unending ache will it perhaps keep one to bed (6)

19. Order setting for ring for today's hautboy (4) 22. To sport a dwarf breed (3)

Yesterday's solution

Across 2. Stuff 5. Pass 7. Grab 8. Diameter 9. On the dot 11. Hide 12. Stock Exchange 15. Arms 17. Pressure 19. Overcoat 21. Draw 22. Knit 23. Tardy Down 1. Baronet 2. Sob 3. Undid 4. Frantic 5. Pie 6. Steed 10. Hacks 11. Heads 13. Exploit 14. Garbage 16. Raven 18. Enter 20. Rat 21. Day