No 9518, Tuesday, 28 Apr 09, Sankalak

An easy error free outing today except for the extra 'i' in 19A
ACROSS
 1 - Canine racer for a reported elegist to pursue (9) - {~gray)GREY{HOUND}
 5 - Fundamental computer programme (5) - BASIC [DD]
 8 - Hammer’s partner in communist symbolism (6) - SICKLE [CD]
 9 - Kiss an outsize copper tardily (8) - {OS}{CU}LATE
11 - Slippery swimmers caught in a creel somehow (4) - EELS [T]
12 - Indian greeting a new red-back amphibian (10) - SALAM{A}{N}{DER<-}
14 - Kind of optical lens, a bit of a historical development (5) - TORIC [T]
15 - A heavy smoker maybe, needing a sweep from time to time (7) - CHIMNEY [CD]
16 - What the temple visitor gets — an audience (7) - DARSHAN [DD]
17 - Sailors heard in a Cheshire town (5) - CREWE (~crew)
19 - Give up devious inquiries involving left hand (10) - RE{L}INQUIS*{H}
20 - The same but different flat-topped hill (4) - MESA* Named Walker's Table in Phantom Comics
22 - They travel for pleasure, agents escorting teacher in retreat (8) - TOU{RIS<-}TS
23 - Weaver’s aid, in extremes of gravity, is depressing (6) - G{LOOM}Y
24 - Thing that strains is back with girl (5) - SI<-{EVE}
25 - One who shells out local taxes, a rare type however (9) - RATEPAYER*
DOWN
 1 - Good theatre attendant but an overeffusive person (6) - {G}USHER
 2 - In a contract it takes care of variations in cost (9,6) - ESCALATOR CLAUSE [CD]
 3 - A golfer’s objective, one of many on course (4) - HOLE [CD]
 4 - Box for papers to which, oddly, pet had access (8,4) - DESPATCH CASE*
 5 - Treated savagely, reserve force student is wounded externally (10) - BRU{TA}{L}ISED
 6 - Do not sit over ritual, insist on formality (5,2,8) - STAND ON CEREMONY [CD]
 7 - Leaders of class before time, without doubt (7) - {CL}EARLY
10 - One that is not conducive to current flow? (3,9) - BAD CONDUCTOR [CD]
13 - Awful oriental peril surrounding egg producers is catching (10) - PRE{HENS}ILE*
16 - Downgrades engagements involving emergency room (7) - D{ER}ATES
18 - What one my hear in Budapest (6) - MAGYAR [CD]
21 - Black sauce causes a spot on the radar screen (4) - {B}LIP