Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS

1 Italian city not quite maintaining already disagreeable relationship with host (10) 6 Snapper in pot, did you say (4) 9 Where litmus paper may be found in red, or a blue (10)

10 Hit hard, covers ripped off before returning book (4) 12 Container in heaven, high (6) 13 Composition with citrus twist (8)

15 Creator strained Job’s patience (5, 7)

18 Playground where one might attempt to remove hooks from swings (7, 5)

21 After swallowing that’s disgusting, is this the best medicine? (8)

22 Motherly character? (6)

24 Suit informally with flower clipped at the front (4)

25 Enthralling work required, send for artist (4-6)

26 Caught in eye, tiny hairy thing proving elusive (4)

27 Conscious, put on one’s thinking cap (10) DOWN 1 Perfect language (6)

2 Overseen by teacher, student ultimately poor performer (6) 3 Check match works well! (6, 1, 5)

4 Sugar daddy, say, dispensing with capital (4)

5 Soldier handles climbing about right, weakness following (10) 7 Left in sore state (8)

8 Super solving! (8)

11 Critical mark in block of flats, perhaps (3, 9)

14 Solid flanks good in huge rally (10)

16 Breach of faith true, lady not to be trusted (8)

17 Poisonous, half a dozen law books (8)

19 Old rhino somewhere in western Africa (6)

20 Oh no, river has consumed weapon (4, 2)

23 Military cap held briefly upon head of infantryman (4)