CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Ready to take the first step to lead off on the track (3,3,4)

6 May mock a passage used to round off a piece of music (4)

10 Turned up to take long set, although uneasy about it (9)

11 Dress things up to fix a race at college (3,2) 12 One has to behave oneself inside Portree, for instance (6)

13 Right-back carried little weight in defeat (7) 15 Apologise for having to cover up veneer (9) 18 Lied about Henry getting to the capital. But it’s not new (5)

19 Make certain, right away, how to proceed (5) 21 About to make an offer to act as one’s agent (9)

23 Find a small joint on line, cut with some style (7)

24 Had to call out service having the necessary skill (6)

27 Made an escape in the US at old siege (5) 28 Sketch out a plan of action for a model (9) 29 Nonetheless, some may get revenge still (4) 30 Use a top storeroom, we’re told, for a successful book (4-6)

DOWN

1 It’s crazy to turn over in order to knock one out (4)

2 Encounter discrimination, on balance (5) 3 To strike over accommodation may touch a raw nerve (3,4)

4 One involved in conspiracy to take control (5)

5 Training vessel suitable for a young recruit, in the main (9)

7 Leon, at large, turned out to be part of a cell (9)

8 Get a kick out of the fact that things will get better (10)

9 A naval officer, at first, had long day with a poet and critic (6)

14 Cleans up with appropriate type of gamble on the horses (10)

16 One setting out with top act, had to start something (9)

17 Can correspond, at first. I can be quite congenial (9)

20 For example, good boy encourages others to take action (4,2)

22 In the past, had enough, for instance (7) 24 Pay attention to a place for holding a 25 down (5)

25 It’s an ordeal having to lag behind, with one changing position (5)

26 Top player, at some stage, might have no time to begin (4)