CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Controls costs, holding back racing

sled (9)

6 Vatican-related drivel written by a

Liberal (5)

9 Beat before the end, stop the steal (5)

10 Dash by a boarding kid with a Mexican

entree (9)

11 Saved longer development of ideals (4,5)

12 At hearing, brushes away Imelda’s

big collection (5)

13 Explorer Amundsen, 50, standing in

street (5)

15 Oregon bureau runs a musical group (9)

18 Finds disturbing drug (speed) (7,2)

19 Ogre bothered her in Saskatchewan (5)

20 Commotion about worship (5)

22 Stripping seedy bar before undercover

operation (9)

25 Rescuer isn’t truthful about onset of

fugue state (9)

26 Even a little aloof initially, like most

NBA players (2,3)

27 Say, “Heads up, they’re sensitive” (5)

28 English city associated with stainless steel badge bearing censored swearword (9)

DOWN

1 Honey badger, restless later (5)

2 Start to develop pronunciation

of acht? (9)

3 Sign left by one supporter, of sorts (5)

4 Young celebrities listened after a

breakup involving love (4,5)

5 Bolivia’s second president upset our

group and most of ship’s staff (5)

6 Wiccan officiant meddles with literary

heroine (9)

7 Shortened stage production for

philosopher (5)

8 Predatory moneylender shown lark by

Spooner (4,5)

13 Canadian trees plan invested in elders,

strangely (3,6)

14 Soldier turning up in ballroom attire gets

off track (9)

16 Democrat in veep race misspelled African

nation (4,5)

17 Kill insect consuming sodium (9)

21 Proposal of iron railing up front (5)

22 Opera stars spoke up about original

piece of Verdi’s (5)

23 Traumatize female boa (5)

24 Good mixture of deli, cold (5)