Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Reliable lad looks after horses (6,3) 8 Slimy creatures to get terribly sad (5) 10 Business rated badly (5) 12 Resting place in Scotland (3) 13 Traitor within fraternity (3) 14 A novel once more (4) 15 Worries, getting small stroke (6) 16 Staring at a torn page (5) 18 Produced new gates, on the day (6) 20 Writer from Zagreb, ironically (4) 22 Facts in emergency (3) 23 Confirmed about tree (3) 24 Sluggish at interchange (5) 25 Compensate by sending a note (5) 26 Say Tom’s order is greatest (9)

DOWN

2 Search crate out (5) 3 Top bets are lost (4) 4 Catch parent out (6) 5 Talk at zero speed (5) 6 Old power’s trendy transport (9) 7 Boarding house resident is no youngster (9) 9 Widow has bet after party (7) 11 Undercooked part of dish (7) 15 About duke being a dishonourable person (3) 17 Mild chap the Spanish turned up (6) 19 Representative time with book (5) 21 Press joins small clubs (5) 23 Fellow member in smallholding (4) Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Ostler’s helper (9) 8 Amphibians (5) 10 Deal (5) 12 Bed (3) 13 Rodent (3) 14 Again (4) 15 Fond touch (6) 16 Open-mouthed (5) 18 Performed (6) 20 Ballpoint pen (4) 22 Information (3) 23 Evergreen (3) 24 Immobile (5) 25 Make amends (5) 26 Maximum (9)

DOWN

2 Find (5) 3 Supreme (4) 4 Ensnare (6) 5 Speak in public (5) 6 Victorian conveyance (9) 7 Retired person (9) 9 Titled widow (7) 11 Cheese on toast (7) 15 Scoundrel (3) 17 Soothing (6) 19 Broker (5) 21 Smooths (5) 23 Ranch (4) Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror