CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

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1 To join the Met as a recruit can take effect (4,4,5)

10 Boxer about to get right in to a cargo-ship (9)

11 Go round with one in an Italian city (5)

12 Is in visual range of having deep understanding (7)

13 Work on musical drama with little time at the end ... (7)

14 ... and, at the end, repair things and removes any faults (6)

16 Knock things down. They fall like ninepins (8)

18 A veteran, in the past, had a spell right at the end (3,5)

20 Irish politician, in short, had a run across a frozen waste (6)

23 Takes a chance to follow various challenges (5,2)

24 Told people positively to have given them confidence (7)

26 Call up old drummer, for instance (5) 27 Reproduction could be a form of flattery (9) 28 Prevent man at one race having resolution (13)

DOWN

2 Forewarnings offered to old characters, at first sight (5)

3 Promised to turn up at a match (7) 4 Had to write things down, but didn’t take anything in (6)

5 Looks over car to find support for the crew (8)

6 Wrong direction taken by those in cowboy territory in the US (3,4)

7 Dog, having followed closely, was cut short (9)

8 Workplace champions put in charge of departments (6-7)