CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Mountain apple (4)

3. An exaggerated imitation of a vet’s tray (8)

9. Considers counts (7) 10. Sounds harsh? Sounds good! (5)

11 & 12ac. See rag below and use it for cleaning (5,6)

14. Sounds to find the vertical (6) 16. If you take away their right, mates can become devils (6)

19 & 21ac. How much? It is on the display! (6,5)

24. The spleen gets five to fire it up (5)

25. Nice gal, very cherubic (7)

26. Speed status was middle of the road (8)

27. Matchless (4)

Down

1. Castle parts are there always (3,5) 2. He said yes to German corn (5) 4. Autograph again and leave (6) 5. Grievous? No sir – It is the fashion (5)

6. 45 litre sombrero? (7)

7. Still I cannot find one in the Himalayas (4)

8. Created by a corn spider? (6)

13. 100 in several directions get fragrances (8)

15. Data not backed up? You may go to Hell! (7)

17. Challenge I’m a dog from the north (6)

18. Taken aback when autographs pour out (6)

20. The deeper part of the “Queen Tavern”? (5)

22. I was winning but went slow (5) 23. The fat chance of Bob getting lithium mass (4)