Daily Telegraph No 28240
A full review by gnomethang
This puzzle was published on 8th October 2016
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Morning All! Apologies for last week’s no show – I was simply inundated with work. I loved the anagrams in this puzzle but didn’t enjoy a couple of niche references.
Across
1a Doctor’s job forces leader to behave when in charge (7,8)
GENERAL PRACTICE – A GENERAL or leader of military forces then ACT or behave inside a PRICE or charge/cost.
9a Casual zen deployed in part of Passage to India (4,5)
SUEZ CANAL – An anagram (indicated by deployed) of CASUAL ZEN.
10a Expert in road went fast (5)
RACED – An ACE or expert inside a RD or abb. for Road.
11a Good-for-nothing makes Bette lose her head (5)
IDLER – That will be Bette MIDLER – remove the first letter (lose the head). Not my favourite clue.
12a Transport magnate‘s shown ripe bananas (4-5)
SHIP-OWNER – An anagram (bananas) of SHOWN RIPE.
13a Fortification arranged by having US soldiers coming round working (8)
GARRISON – The abb. ARR for ARRanged with the GIS (Government/General Issue or American Soldiers) coming round the outside. Finally add ON for working/running.
14a Swear summer in Cannes makes you exhausted (6)
EFFETE = To EFF and Jeff/Blind (or swear) followed by ETE or the French word for Summer (indicated by in Cannes).
16a Venetian leader receives thanks in declining years (6)
DOTAGE – The DOGE was a chief magistrate in Venice or Genoa. Include (it receives) TA for a word of thanks.
18a American wrestler hiding in one tree or another (8)
MAHOGANY – You need to know about Hulk HOGAN – the American wrestler. Place him inside a MAY tree to get another. Even I had forgotten about this un-notable.
22a Scaring bird round top of tree (9)
STARTLING – Back on track with a chestnut. Place a STARLING around the top letter in T(ree).
23a Crash has queen in pain (5)
PRANG – An R for Regina/Queen – it could have been R for Rex/King – inside a PANG of pain.
24a A lottery returned prize (5)
AWARD – A from the clue and then a reversal (returned) of DRAW or lottery.
25a Dark Blues briefly set off in racing boat (9)
OUTRIGGER – The Dark Blues in the famous boat race are the O(xford) U(niversity) or OU. Add TRIGGER/set off.
26a Suffer poverty cultivating hostile farmland (4,2,4,5)
FALL ON HARD TIMES – A nicely spotted anagram (cultivating) of HOSTILE FARMLAND.
Down
1d Youngster requires energy drink (7)
GOSLING – A charade of GO (energy/zip) and SLING – e.g. the Gin SLING drink.
2d One makes points to goad Republican (7)
NEEDLER –To NEEDLE or goad followed by R for Republican. Other Republican candidates are available.
3d Do truer discoing possibly from its output? (9,6)
RECORDING STUDIO – Great clue. An anagram of DO TRUER DISCOING (possibly).
4d Outsider has hot pants the wrong way round (4,4)
LONG SHOT – HOT from the clue and then LONGS or pants/desires. Then place them the other way round.
5d Like newly turfed pitch? Spinning bowler not half needs supporting help (6)
RELAID – Reverse (spinning) half of (bow)LER and then add AID for help.
6d Botanic Prof torn suffering damage to environment? (6,9)
CARBON FOOTPRINT – A suffering anagram of BOTANIC PROF TORN and another very good clue.
7d What some churches use to arouse passion (7)
INCENSE – Two definitions – who spelt it with two Cs?
8d Back last runner at ‘Aydock? (7)
ENDORSE – Lovely. The last running horse at ‘Adock might be the END ‘Orse since we are dropping the (h)AITCHES!
15d Criminal, German, concealing disquiet (8)
GANGSTER – GER for German containing (concealing) ANGST or despair.
16d Detective workers on woman’s side (7)
DISTAFF – Split as (2,5) to get a DI (Detective Inspector) and then the STAFF or workers (as opposed to the management!).
17d Track laid round area — very hard work (7)
TRAVAIL – A TRAIL or track around the abb. for A(rea) and V(ery).
19d Molten rock goes skywards carrying aluminium alloy in liquid form (7)
AMALGAM – Reverse (goes skyward) MAGMA/Molten rock and include/carry AL for Aluminium.
20d Dairy products sort guy out (7)
YOGURTS – An easy anagram, indicated by ‘out’, of SORT GUY.
21d Put a stop to glitch so bike keeps up (6)
KIBOSH – The answer is hidden in (kept) and reversed in (up) glitcH SO BIKe.
Thanbks to the setter. I’ll see ya when I see ya!