CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across

1. Some horses may get tied in knots (6) 8. Braided hair of first pony-tail (5) 9. Novel-writing is the rub, right away (7) 11. One like Adam working out-of-doors (8) 12. Noisily drink first ribena plus its variations (5)

15. Festive occasion for a convict to return to (4)

16. Fight to name all the points of the compass (3)

17. American expression for a double-curve? (4)

19. Slow down, one is told, for the intermission (5)

21. Runs right after conservationists in fashionable society (8) 24. Discussion group remains to be sorted out (7)

25. With a burden to lend a form to (5) 26. German money and French opportunity for buying and selling (6)

▶ Down

2. Judicial hearing may prove a hardship (5)

3. Space between notes when the orchestra's not playing? (8)

4. Pottery waste right inside Guildhall giant (4)

5. It may dig out a black card (5) 6. Storehouse where one can drink nectar initially (4)

7. Begin to move prison (4) 10. Country folk, as no Latin may be? (9) 12. He's wise to be so green (4)

13. A flatterer, or one truce is arranged for (8)

14. The sennight sounds feeble (4) 18. Mischievous trick quietly to assign to a particular class (5)

20. We also known as vigilant in this form (5)

21. Junior player who got fired (4) 22. Nothing from Spain – and a mixture of it (4)

23. Reportedly needs stitching it would appear (4)