by Jane Fitzpatrick AE
ACROSS
8 Able to match the marketplace, but not always triumph (4, 3, 4, 3)
9 Second-rate record, composed online (4)
10 Herons sail astray more than is fair (5, 5)
11 A measure of spirit reported in early stage of production (6)
13 Revere misplaced hens on flurried ride north, having lost last bit of cord (8)
14 Haul very large, skinned pig to make old Hungarian ham (6)
15 Some heathen celebrities came from there (6)
18 A nice rug ruined in war-torn village (8)
20 Ship that is following directions finds monster (6)
22 Foolishly, almost-cold food ends wastefully (10)
23 He dawdles back, content to walk against resistance (4)
24 It’s not hard to arrive at simple turn, and be lost with no regret (4, 4, 4, 2)
DOWN
1 Damage encompasses talent centre in cool part of Manhattan (6)
2 Male animal leaders seem to act guardedly (4)
3 Head kangaroo sick of gutless joeys; they spoil it for everyone
4 Fall guys’ way round heartless ogres (7)
5 Strains can be continuous (6)
6 Adjust sight range for this magazine (10)
7 Crimean lamp-holder attracts droves of tourists (8)
12 Modelled large dress in any circumstances (10)
14 Sound of disgust was buried in later sounds of merriment (8)
16 To trim ponytail, add moisture to melon (8)
17 Understands way to measure depth (7)
19 Unconscious decade takes in a hundred stupid acts (6)
21 Deeply blue when find nothing in archaeologist’s excavation (6)
23 White-headed snake has sting in tail (4)
ANSWERS
ACROSS
8 can’t win them all | 9 blog | 10 lion’s share | 11 embryo | 13 enshrine | 14 lugosi | 15 thence | 18 guernica | 20 nessie | 22 childishly | 23 wade | 24 easy come easy go
DOWN
1 harlem | 2 stag | 3 killjoys | 4 stooges | 5 tenses | 6 gatherings | 7 florence | 12 regardless | 14 laughter | 16 honeydew | 17 fathoms | 19 idiocy | 21 indigo | 23 wasp