CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7 Had some talent left in pretty good conditions (5)

8 Put on some weight; it could be quite magnetic (9)

10 Arrive at one’s destination, having regained consciousness (4,2)

11 Odds on one ceremony for daughter who is full of life (8)

12 To be successful is one’s parting wish (8) 13 Have a brainwave, in fact, when wide awake (4)

15 When playing tennis, get round under strain (7)

17 Instigated move to have popular characters summoned (7)

20 Can show ability in some racing stables (4) 22 Certain to have links with legal securities against loss (8)

25 Put more dice into play, but they were pretty average (8)

26 Regular meetings can turn into school classes (6)

27 Create music with a little time to bring proposals together (9)

28 We object in first grade to taking drugs (5)

DOWN

1 Grants a trainee place to settle, initially (9) 2 Be pleased, up to a point, with having a good image (8)

3 Give some comfort to a prisoner on solitary (7)

4 Join, at one time, individual working as well (8)

5 Some all-out action can be a hit (6)

6 Put one’s name down to compete, in fact, on even terms (5)

9 Take care of some soldiers at the centre of things (4) 14 Resolve to prevent many, in the end (9) 16 Gloomy outlook for the wrong players, at some stage (8)

18 Is return on capital at a premium? (8) 19 Looks to get one’s bearings, for making appearances (7)

21 Little boy halts some old bigoted types (6) 23 A large number of service personnel on time (4)

24 Feel depressed. It’s getting one down (5)