No 2665, Sunday 18 Dec 11

ACROSS
1   - Firm order initially put in by one working with horses (9) - STABLEBOY {STABLE}{B{O}Y}
6   - Chaplain may give tramp religious education (5) - PADRE {PAD}{RE}
9   - Chooses not to be involved with new post abroad (4,3) - OPTS OUT {OPTS*} {OUT}
10 - A series in dispute (2,5) - AT ISSUE {A}{T ISSUE}
11 - Have no influence getting foreign noble free (5,3,7) - COUNT FOR NOTHING {COUNT} {FOR NOTHING}
12 - Grasslike plant in small border (5) - SEDGE {S}{EDGE}
13 - US author may, reportedly (9) - HAWTHORNE [DD]
15 - Athletic event last month, Irish town shortened (9) - DECATHLON {DEC}{ATHLONe}
17 - After short time, warning device may become a source of irritation (5) - THORN {T}{HORN}
19 - Never doing anything wrong, chess player threw in hat excitedly (6,4,5) - WHITER THAN WHITE {WHITE}{R THAN WHITE*}
22 - Resign from bank at Oxford on Thursday? (5,2) - THROW UP {TH}{ROW} {UP}
23 - Making a mistake about a piece of jewellery (7) - EARRING {E{A}RRING}
24 - Salesman's extremely lengthy answer (5) - REPLY {REP}{LengthY}
25 - Messed about, ace landed upset (3,1,5) - LED A DANCE*
DOWN
1   - Endless criticism involving old philosopher (5) - STOIC {ST{O}{ICk}
2   - Surprise caused by a tanker originally entering channel (7) - ASTOUND {A}{S{T}OUND}
3   - Deliberately ignore fashion article on alternative fashion (4,3,5,3) - LOOK THE OTHER WAY {LOOK} {THE} {OTHER} {WAY}
4   - Engagement later - both made up (9) - BETROTHAL*
5   - Long period of time before end of depression (5) - YEARN {YEAR}{N}
6   - Go on a pub crawl, to get rid of the blues? (5,3,4,3) - PAINT THE TOWN RED [DD]
7   - Tramp carrying one collection of papers (7) - DOSSIER {DOSS{I}ER}
8   - Film starring Jessie Matthews - about parting revenge, roughly (9) - EVERGREEN {EVERG{RE}EN*}
12 - Drink stewed tea in ward, so busy (4,5) - SODA WATER {SODA W{ATE*}R*}
14 - Started and took the lead (4,5) - WENT AHEAD [DD]
16 - Tweet from Greek character, leading bishop inside (7) - CHIRRUP {CHI}{RR}{UP}
18 - Work in front of ironmonger's, on view (7) - OPINION {OP{IN}{I}{ON}
20 - Actor O'Toole, at heart, soft-hearted (5) - TOPOL {o'TO{P}OLe}
21 - Bird dog dropping first of birds (5) - EAGLE bEAGLE