CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Pal refusing to swim where oil tankers travel frequently (7,4) 9 Embroider doilies to put on a pedestal (7) 10 Painkiller troubles anyone with disease at first (7) 11 Trim top off grass, just the top (3) 12 Lacking energy, his poems displayed false reasoning (7) 13 Barrister meets disheartened lady for a short time (7) 14 Notice Oscar causing disturbance (3) 15 Writer’s replacing amateur in game, making easy putt (5) 17 Gunpowder ingredient can upset engineers (5) 18 Joins sporting events (5) 20 Drive over first of Grampian hills (5) 22 Personnel manager employs furniture maker (3) 24 US uncle’s broken heart (7) 25 Stimulating devout fashion designer (7) 26 Duck starts to nibble in lake (3) 27 Pagan’s kind, I gathered (7) 28 Complete song, one all about daughter of King Minos (7) 29 Pick young trainee originally in part as conductor (11)

DOWN

1 He’s chosen copper compound that glows (15) 2 Bar trouble interrupting call (7) 3 IT company controls each structural component (1-4) 4 Banana cooked with red curry accompaniment (4,5) 5 Impromptu? To pianist this is more than idyllic (7) 6 Leave runway, then head away across line and flip (3,3,3,6) 7 Rest in cosiest armchair (6) 8 Enter data again to do with face (6) 16 Mother resents disentangling muddle (5,4) 18 Where chap, say, gets introduction to equines (6) 19 Tree is decaying, absorbing litres but unable to bear fruit (7) 21 Probe English peculiarity briefly in New York (7) 23 Notice Hare initially avoiding Mad Hatter’s topic (6) 25 Philosopher’s climbing mountain top nonstop (5) FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16240, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be datestamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 66.

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today’s crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today’s clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.