CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Ditch the bit left over from battle (5) 4. Sprite as put out by dance-leader looking tigrish (7) 8. Those who speak in dialogue bury our Colts anyhow (13) 10. From that time of wrongdoing, race abandoned by artist (5) 11. Slacken off to see a different shape it makes (4) 12. Funeral pile may be a part of happy release (4) 16. Lean around top of knee, or joint that was turned (5) 17. Extra decoration for me to back: ringer hits men out (13) 19. Lots of racehorses get pulled by those with influence (7) 20. Fanatical as an Academician with an offer to make (5)

DOWN

1. Feckless quality will move fewer on the Loch (13) 2. Rodent rarely attacks thistle-heads (3) 3. Study S American nation and see two-thirds of it (6) 4. Behaves amorously if one is prying but gets upset (6) 5. Utterly defeated by detour one took by mistake (6) 6. Model gets professional to use machine in the office (9) 7. Impartial sister dined out with half the team (13) 9. Take one apart for a dime, Mrs? Be awkward to do so! (9) 13. In a marsh, everything that has come down from above (6) 14. Around end of June pelts lots of geese in flight (6) 15. The entry in terrace without a race to tie it up (6) 18. Decline to be known as Robert Browning’s wife initially (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION:

Across 1. Chump 4. Tonnage 8. Rigmarole 9. Act 10. Unnamed 12. Club 14. Station 17. Alas 18. Hashish 20. Cap 21. Intricate 23. Sincere 24. Exert

Down 1. Circumstances 2. Urgent 3. Playmate 4. Two 5. Need 6. Arable 7. Establishment 11. Dutch 13. Conspire 15. Happen 16. Pirate 19. Pike 22. Tee