DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Sick American to train cast, for example (12) 8 Old racing ground cultivated without pesticide (7) 9 Drawing Indian city in the dark (7) 11 Finish ceiling over empty room using this sort of cover? (10) 12 Small tailless dog that emerges from chimney (4) 14 Charlatan’s ‘I’m destitute’ taking in good person (8) 16 Notice a knock regularly interrupting such a gathering? (6) 17 Quiet parent (3) 19 Errand-boy reported rodent in U.S. (6) 21 Instructs trainee initially and leaves container (3,5) 24 Eye big IT company that’s lost energy (4) 25 Second English soldier getting into new division (10) 27 Begin to stop old fellows (4,3) 28 Submit gold, creating scene (7) 29 Foreign articles present threat to bathers (12)

DOWN

1 People with a shared interest pouring bubbly (2-5) 2 Continents have large and medium equines (4,6) 3 Son tossed rock into Isle of Man ward (8) 4 Very excited about unfinished Indian garment (3-3) 5 The pub in Yorkshire that gives skiers a lift? (1-3) 6 Romans trained with European crews (7) 7 Utensil for Browning and for king after drinking his health (8,4) 10 Run home to get novel in language used by parents (6,6) 13 Decipher and intensively study book in Leeds complex (10) 15 Girl’s endless humdrum existence (3) 18 Person getting top billing in Margate’s poorly (8) 20 Plaice cooked before noon for bird (7) 22 Conspicuous pit in hospital department (7) 23 Doubt Italy in December is divine (6) 26 Use it to spray flower (4)

PRIZES of £20 will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions checked. Solutions to: Daily Mail Prize Crossword No. 15,690, PO BOX 3451, Norwich, NR7 7NR. Entries may be submitted by second-class post. Envelopes must be postmarked no later than tomorrow. Please make sure you enclose your name and address.