No 2686, Sunday 13 May 12

Toughie
ACROSS
1   - Something attractive, foremost of gardens captured by French painter (6)  - MAGNET {MA{G}NET}
4   - Operator needs a fresh start and to develop quickly (7)  - BURGEON (-s+b)BURGEON
9   - Knife left in various places (7)  - SCALPEL {SCA{L}PEL*}

10 - Allowed to hold outrageous dance (7)  - GAVOTTE {GAV{OTT}E}
11 - No-hoper's not as far away once leader's fallen (5)  - LOSER cLOSER
12 - The British government will, Heath worried (9)  - WHITEHALL*

13 - Novelist's Tory lord - he's cracked cases put into words (7,1,6)  - DOROTHY L SAYERS {DOROTHY L{SAY}ERS*}
16 - Louis and former PM in the joint (3,5,6)  - THE BROWN BOMBER {THE {BROWN} BOMBER}
20 - On the sly, poured out gin and tonic, nothing more (9)  - INCOGNITO {GIN+TONIC}*{O}
22 - Soldier returning in vehicle points to smoke (5)  - CIGAR{C{IG<-}AR}
23 - Manage to see fashion abroad (4,3)  - MAKE OUT {MAKE} {OUT}
24 - Spotted entertaining ambassador and bishop in an unlicensed establishment (7)  - SHEBEEN {S{HE}{B}EEN}
25 - Willpower about to crack (7)  - RESOLVE {RE}{SOLVE}
26 - Suspicious about new drink (6)  - SHANDY {SHA{N}DY}
DOWN
1   - Strength of beast of burden carrying spades about (6)  - MUSCLE {MU{SC}LE} Spades & SC ? (Addendum - {MU{S}{C}LE} - See comments)
2   - Good boy getting fourteen pounds from former PM (9)  - GLADSTONE {G}{LAD}{STONE}
3   - Type of grass found in part of Pyrenees? Part of (7)  - ESPARTO [T]

4   - Large young lady's shirt-like garment is wet (3,5,6)  - BIG GIRLS BLOUSE {BIG} {GIRLS} {BLOUSE}
5   - Warm coastal district in Rhode Island, one crossed by girl (7)  - RIVIERA {RI}{V{I}ERA}
6   - Former partner on craft coming over more (5)  - EXTRA{EX}{TRA<-}
7   - Unnecessary to pierce ends of sacs (8)  - NEEDLESS {NEEDLE}{SacS}
8   - Expose a wrongdoing, as a referee will (4,3,7)  - BLOW THE WHISTLE [DD]
14 - Holly's one song that's been popular for a long time (9)  - EVERGREEN [DD]
15 - What can make borders ultimately neater? (8)  - STRIMMER {S}{TRIMMER} Semi &lit
17 - Cat and dog injured during short demo (7)  - RAGDOLL {RA{DOG*}LLy}

18 - Be hooked by new form of match play (7)  - MACBETH {MAC{BE}TH*}
19 - Attempt to secure object with it (6)  - TRENDY {TR{END}Y}
21 - Savoury food in bars (5) - CAKES [DD]

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