CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Graduate is wearing shiny material showing mythical creature (8)

5 Cheap stew now regularly taken before limited snack (3-3)

9 Theologians follow this priest replacing European in area (8)

10 Attack idiot confronting

trouble (6)

12 Gemstone merely

left out by cross (4)

13 Nipper soon on the loose in less supervised penal institution (4,6)

15 Put off playing a

certain sport (13)

19 Awful teen alas booed gets to have nothing to do (2,2,1,5,3)

23 Genuine figure is embracing new racket sport (4,6)

25 Give special slant to

brief trip in car (4)

28 A line about way of working by artist lacking ethics? (6)

29 Standard taunt adopted by a male? That’s a typical example (8)

30 In retirement, the Spanish guy’s first obtained part of a coat? (6)

31 Dogs in Western joint

with misshapen step (8)

DOWN

1 Problem arising over

line in hole (6)

2 Tarnish leader of society completely, dismissing fellow (5)

3 Records material for

making cabins (4)

4 Southern U.S. artist, one

visiting retail outlet? (7)

6 Actor Greg, right,

is more prudent (5)

7 Cheek shown by bachelor

with group of musicians (5,4) 8 First signs of this acumen provided by journalist that’s skilful (8)

11 Responsibility beginning to overwhelm group of students (4)

14 Party upset a hotel in

Middle East capital (4)

15 Pretend to cooperate with plan and goal formulated around end of July (4,5)

16 A game played indoors

in the past (3)

17 Part of rib exposed in

mountain goat (4)

18 A British bishop retains English worker departing from accepted norms (8)

20 Sound in a sty partly

too in Kent (4)

21 Special measure to import

a green vegetable (7)

22 Ill feeling in a revolutionary

by necessity almost (6)

24 Follow opening of this

means of transport (5)

26 Control is evident

in U.S. writer (5)

27 Catch one’s breath when

detained by doctor (4)

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,049, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. Terms apply, see Page 50.