the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Just the racer to beat the favourite (7) 4 A few notes mount up (5) 7 They may be eaten slowly or bolted (4) 8 Capital may transform bad set-up (8) 10 Keep a firm grip (10) 12 Is able somehow to get safely down to rock-bottom (6) 13 Seize a king before all others (6) 15 Sounds terrific in all respects, thank you (10) 18 Well brought up but lacking refinement (5,3) 19 Bill presented to a man brings lasting pain (4) 20 He goes out with Irene (5) 21 Given protection, being cautious (7)

DOWN

1 Elevating objective of the trainee pilot (5) 2 Hobby for profit (8) 3 Instructed to appear tense in speech (6) 4 Is little skill required to sail them? (5,5) 5 Help with a wager (4) 6 Beg for an adjustment in net rate (7) 9 Against rigid price control for winter motoring (10) 11 Superseded, so put in debt (8) 12 Object of writing (7) 14 Train a number of racehorses (6) 16 Give in or give out (5) 17 Act in rotation (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Repulsively dirty (7) 4 Warm and damp (5) 7 Undisguised (4) 8 False (8) 10 Nevertheless (3,3,4) 12 Of dogs (6) 13 Take the trouble (6) 15 Seclusion from harsh reality (5,5) 18 Become established (4,4) 19 Make thorough search (4) 20 Small boat used with paddles (5) 21 Cultivated (7)

DOWN

1 Speak derisively (5) 2 Faultless (8) 3 Second in command (6) 4 In this vicinity (10) 5 Debatable (4) 6 Feeling of hopelessness (7) 9 Unrhymed poetry (5,5) 11 Final reckoning (8) 12 Biting (7) 14 Tanks (6) 16 Fanatical (5) 17 Of similar character (4)