CROSSWORD AND HOROSCOPES

No 1,607

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘X’ appears in the grid. Post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,607, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Closing date is Friday, August 24. One random winner from all correct entries will win €75. The winner will be notified within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

7 School prep (8) 9 Stay out of sight (3,3) 10 Labyrinth (4) 11 A baker’s one has 13 (5) 12 Never Let ____ – novel by 8 down (2,2) 13 Hat with a very wide brim – as worn in Mexico (8) 14 Get money from someone using force, threats or other illegal means (6) 16 Hawksbill turtle material used for combs and ornaments (13) 18 Subject expert (6) 19 Daring, fearless (8) 22 Government overthrow (4) 24 Equivalent, the same (5) 25 Charitable donations for the poor (4) 26 Afternoon rest taken in hot countries (6) 27 Person with whom one competes (8)

DOWN

1 Trinidad’s partner island (6) 2 Recalled, reminisced (10) 3 Scribble or draw aimlessly (6) 4 Famous poppy growing area (8) 5 A third of the school year (4) 6 Comic verse, usually irregular in measure (8) 8 Japanese-born British novelist who was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature (5,8) 15 (and 17 down) Novel for which 8 down won the 1989 Booker Prize (3,7,2,3,3) 16 Characteristic of (or relating to) the German people (8) 17 See 15 down 20 Flowers from Amsterdam (6) 21 Invulnerable, unsusceptible (6) 23 Upper-class, swanky (4)