The Weekly cryptic

No 28,867

Across

1 After mistake on circuit, pressure for F1

starter (6)

5 Meat from sheep I finished first (8)

9 Indigo for a chess computer (4,4)

10 Rural cottage is this writer’s bolthole? (6) 11 Care to relax, after putting energy into a

comic song (7,5)

13 For her, partner (not male) not available (4) 14 Upset voter stumbles against ballot box (8) 17 Reduce studies in first chapter? (8)

18 One goes round castle, treading nothing into

carpet (4)

20 What did you say, you tosser? (5,2,5)

23 Tore off from opera, back at top speed to

dance (6)

24 Partnership lacking say in loyalty (8)

25 Without imagination, supermarket replaces

legend’s recipe (8)

26 Deer turns over something with one foot (6)

Down

2 In the country I am an unknown animal (4)

3 Random bloke caught out over pitfall (9)

4 Send fruitlessly from here to post in this

box (6)

5 Appoint entirely unsatisfactory

diplomat (15)

6 Glittering, like part of American flag (8)

7 Trainspotter losing head – it’s like a

sieve (5)

8 Went to see a fellow motoring enthusiast to

give a bit of a hand (10)

12 Bigoted, enjoying the bilingual harangue (10) 15 I mark the moment the paper is on the carpet

– picked up quietly (4-5)

16 Rare single: not running in between (8) 19 Bat showing determination on old wicket (6) 21 Be out of sleeping bag? That’s odd (5)

22 Small incision in tail (4)