CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
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 16,401, 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 64.
ACROSS
1 Roughly prepares stones (7) 5 European carried back to get dressed formally (6) 9 Clive and he arranged transport (7) 10 A glass of XXX? (7) 11 Managed U.S. farm without central heating (3) 12 Old study torn to bits during study of earth (11) 13 Saint’s safe (5) 14 Surveys going over limits must ignore IT trainers (9) 16 Model stays with them to obtain gemstones (9) 17 Great birdie, or better score at St Andrews (5) 19 House member Ben stops illegal check in pub (11) 22 Secure game (3) 23 Tube or duct in ground with nothing in it (7) 24 Top woman in Russia once seen in Amritsar in August (7) 26 Handy American fuel tanks (6) 27 Quiet, strangely eerie around midnight when moon’s closest (7)
DOWN
1 Concealment very nearly interrupts putsch (5-2) 2 Secret location for stage manager? (6-3-6) 3 Leading aircraftman’s shiny material (3) 4 Yard seizes Eastern weapon of old (5) 5 Inca seats evolved into Latin American ranches (9) 6 It may charge money (5) 7 In-flight blog not edited in a flash (4,2,9) 8 Steer right round English flowers (6) 12 Measurement of waist could be right (5) 14 Mail old South African province after Labour’s result (9) 15 Absolutely fine (5) 16 Music group vacated cosy office in monastery (6) 18 Put up valet working in suburbs of Eastbourne (7) 20 Fanatic’s taken over large bank? That’s a bit steep! (5) 21 Angry male equivalent of ‘she-ewe’? (3,2) 25 Broadcast a diary at regular intervals (3)
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.