SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD No 15,727:

ACROSS: 1 Bulldog clip. 9 Unlined. 10 Signs up. 11 Gut. 12 Closure. 13 Relapse. 14 Pal. 15 Recap. 17 Yarns. 18 Logic. 20 Up-bow. 22 Irk. 24 Get lost. 25 Quinine. 26 You. 27 Chimera. 28 Absolve. 29 Grand pianos. DOWN: 1 Bolt of lightning. 2 Languor. 3 Dodge. 4 Gastropub. 5 Legally. 6 Past participles. 7 Hubcap. 8 Upsets. 16 Courtyard. 18 Legacy. 19 Cholera. 21 Whitsun. 23 Keeper. 25 Quasi.

DAILY MAIL New Cryptic Crosswords — pit your wits against 100 of the trickiest cryptic puzzles ever to appear in your favourite paper. This book provides the ideal way to warm up your grey matter for a day’s work, or wind down and relax during those rare spare moments. Available from the Daily Mail Book Shop, call 0844 571 0640 or visit www.mailbookshop.co.uk. P&P free on orders over £15.