No 13155, Wednesday 27 Jan 2021, Arden

Solution to 17D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Animal handler’s cry, circus finally goes for master (6) MAHOUT (-s+ma)MAHOUT

4   Throw in front, one sounded amused (8) CHUCKLED {CHUCK}{LED}

9   Brown will spurn, strain shows up at regular intervals (6) SUNTAN {SpUrN+sTrAiN}

10 Ape on another planet — second to feature in picture (8) MARMOSET {MAR{MO}S}{ET}

12 Releases one during meals... (8) LAUNCHES {L{A}UNCHES}

13 ... far more perhaps, with table emptied (6) REMOTE {MORE*}{TablE}

15 Super human powers to move cavalry on ice (12) CLAIRVOYANCE*

18 Tend to protect Beth and clan, refuse complete freedom (5,7) CARTE BLANCHE {CAR{BETH+CLAN}*E}

21 Questioning a small family group, to start with (6) ASKING {A}{S}{KIN}{Gr..p}

22 Getting rid of lollipops, thrown back in the face (8) DISPOSAL {DI{SOPS<=}AL}

24 Stupid and boring to have doctor and engineer together (8) DUMBBELL {DU{MB}{BE}LL}

25 Frightens spies (6) SPOOKS [DD]

26 John told to dispatch, it’s not settled yet (5,3) LOOSE END {LOO}{(~send)SEEND}

27 Italian city’s lost its soul, it’s sad (6) TRISTE TRIeSTE

DOWN

1   Simple solution, saving account will lose it (8) MISPLACE {MISPL{AC}E*}

2   Takes some time to cross New Delhi — like the country (8) HONDURAS {HO{ND}UR}{AS}

3   Can’t say for sure since entering doubtful, accomplished finally (15) UNASCERTAINABLE {UN{AS}CERTAIN}{ABLE}

5   With Chamomile tea, Carol finally found cure (4) HEAL Tail Acrostic

6   Promotion daily, it’s one way to borrow money (10,5) COMMERCIAL PAPER {COMMERCIAL}{PAPER}

7   Wild lions have big head, that’s capital (6) LISBON {LIS{Big}ON*}

8   Hesitate to leave the girl — take away the child (6) DITHER {DITch}{HER}

11 Sorter’s work to find nice places (7) RESORTS*

14 Material for a doctor to limit pain, mostly (7) CAMBRIC {C{A}{MB}RICk}

16 Dealt with sacrilegiousness — in league with censors’ tool (8) SCISSORS {SCISSORS+in+league = sacrilegiousness} [CA]

17 Flower without form is considered inferior (8) ?E?L?S?E (Addendum - DECLASSE {DE{CLASS}E})

19 Criminal at the forefront of a political party in India (6) VANDAL {VAN}{DAL}

20 Stance taken — almost similar to unruly mob (6) AKIMBO {AKIn}{MOB*}

23 Way to go from bottom to top in style (4) ELAN (+e)ELAN(-e)

Reference List

Master = MA, Second = MO, Picture = ET, Small = S, Doctor = MB, Engineer = BE, John = LOO, Child = CH. Flower = DEE(River)