Crossbar

No 1,556

ACROSS 1 Able to gather up star player for Real Madrid (6,4) 8 Just going to Gala, perhaps, for the show (4) 9 Girl who joins in with Bradford or Arsenal (4) 10 They take a risk by betting on the nose (8) 12 Lay bare, at last, so totally out of pocket, commonly (5) 13 American agents can be in special forces group (3) 14 English Championship side sets the pace, we’re told (5) 16 Go across the ice to catch a fish, for instance (5) 17 Spoke about top team being serious about the game (5) 18 Lag behind on the track. It’s a drag (5) 19 Gets the better of the opposition with bonus runs in the field (10) 22 Help an accomplice to have a 20 across at Epsom, say (4) 24 Young man got a word of thanks for his musical work (6) 26 Incentive offered to thoroughbred to go faster (6) 27 Go downhill, at first, with a divine being (3) 28 Is Frank open about being up front? (7) 30 Managed a rich horse for a top track star (5,5)

DOWN 1 Lie about goal for the Derby winner in 2001 (7) 2 Are some gangsters quite at home on the tennis court? (10) 3 Change-over is a vital part of a triathlon (10) 4 Hung about without one, but was in pursuit (6) 5 Support leading oarsman in the pool with discipline (4-6) 6 Did Carol manage old Spanish linesman? (5) 7 Record-breaking winner of the French Open, yet again (6,5) 8 Complains about son dropping out, but comes together (5) 9 Find a full set of cards on board ship (4) 11 Settle down at Sunderland, Ipswich and Tottenham, initially (3) 15 Move at speed in singular local game (4) 20 With one’s take home pay, run to place a bet (5) 21 Did a former Forest and England winger carry weight? (5) 22 Perform, at some stage, in a factory team (3) 23 Graduate had hard time back in the English Premiership (4) 25 Girl who joins in with Everton or Arsenal (4) 29 Starting off at Coventry with a small firm (2)

Last week’s winner of £30 Love to Shop vouchers was: Mr C Mabon, Clifton Road, Selkirk. Entries to: Crossbar competition, The Scotsman, 30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 2HS. The winner’s name and solution will be published next Monday. The Scotsman Publications Ltd employees and their families are not eligible. The Editor’s decision is final.