CROSSWORD AND HOROSCOPES

No 1,609

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘X’ appears in the grid. Post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,609, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Closing date is Friday, September 7. One random winner from all correct entries will win €75. The winner will be notified within 14 days. Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

1 (and 11, 15, 21 across, 8, 13 down) Proverb illustrating even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point (1,7,2,1,8,5,6,4,1,6,4)

7 Famous botanical gardens in south-east England (3)

9 Central church areas (5)

10 Fall guy, whipping boy (9) 11 See 1 across 12 Largest hot desert in the world (6)

14 Acclaimed 19th/20th century Italian conductor (surname) (9) 15 See 1 across 17 First public appearance (5) 19 Legitimised (9) 21 See 1 across 23 Antwerp residents (8) 25 Cleverest (9) 26 Spanish word for friend (5)

27 Deceit, falsehood (3)

28 Lotteries commonly found at horse racing (11)

DOWN

1 Supplied with notes (9) 2 Clear (7) 3 Opposed, unwilling (9)

4 Basic needs, vital requirements (10)

5 Shape you’d associate with Surrey County Cricket Club ground (4) 6 Type of venue (5) 7 Person claiming to have the answers (4-3) 8 See 1 across 13 See 1 across 15 Destructive, cancerous (9) 16 Subordinate events or incidents (9) 18 Luggage (7) 20 Suffering from mal-de-mer (7) 21 Biblical tower city (5) 22 In the ancient Roman calendar, the ninth day before the ides of each month (5) 24 Outdoor bazaar (4)