No 133450, Monday 10 Jan 2022, Arden

Solution to 14D 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.

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Two runs — that’ll make you feel better (6) BRACES [DD] ( Addendum - BRACER {BRACE}{R} - See comments)

4   Vehicles come head to head at a game (8) BACCARAT {CAB}<={CAR}{AT}

9   Land in Bucharest at eight (6) ESTATE [T]

10 Tease friend, boast about it (8) BALLYRAG {B{ALLY}RAG}

12 Charming idea — born free! (8) DEBONAIR*

13 Vicious short delivery, goes over gully (6) BRUTAL {B{RUT}ALl}

15 Can’t see some politicians getting mature, what’s in their mind? (6,6) HIDDEN AGENDA {HIDDEN}{NDA} over {AGE} Semi&lit

18 Press for universal inclusion — the condition follows (6,6) FOURTH ESTATE {FO{U}R}{THE}{STATE}

21 Insect tries to form stearic acid (6) CICADA {CICADA+TRIES}*={STEARIC+ACID} [CA]

22 Embraces others, they provide support (8) ARMRESTS {ARM{REST}S}

24 I work, afterwards I pray to God (8) IDOLATER {I}{DO}{LATER}

25 Not too bright? School admission is crazy (6) INSANE {IN{S}ANE}

26 Armour plate may lose strength, better trim the edges (8) PALLETTE {PALL}{bETTEr} 

27 Stone and wood shine in the middle (6) ASHLAR {ASH}{gLARe}

DOWN

1   They indicate how far different sides are (8) BREADTHS [CD]

2   Work piece comes up — stops any bugs from attacking us (8) ANTIBODY {DO}{BIT}<= in {ANY}

3   Criminal detection, learn to involve police finally to maintain good relationships (7,8) ENTENTE CORDIALE {DETECTION+LEARN}* over {p...cE}

5   He came first — firm must sack worker (4) ADAM ADAMant

6   Old song about air corps played at the site of US air force academy (8,7) COLORADO SPRINGS {OLD+SONG+AIR+CORPS}*

7   One of a kind, how will it become airworthy? (6) RARITY {RARITY+HOW}*={AIRWOTHY} [CA]

8   Rose with joy, cut short by switch (6) TOGGLE {GOT<=}{GLEe} (Rose=Got up)

11 A star in trouble? (7) SINATRA* Semi&lit

14 Chicken leg, it gets blown (7) ?E?H?R? (Addendum - LEGHORN {LEG}{HORN} - See comments)

16 His plan was to cause harm quietly, everyone supported (8) MARSHALL {MAR}{SH}{ALL} Semi&lit Not clear which Marshall is being referred to

17 Soldiers curse such dress (8) MENSWEAR {MEN}{SWEAR}

19 Save money, invest in share (6) SCRIMP {SCRI{M}P}

20 Lines of Tolkien’s monsters come up, move the display (6) SCROLL {LL}{ORCS}<= 

23 Starts to feel erotic, likes to be touched (4) FELT Acrostic

Reference List

Run = R, Universal = U, School = S, Quietly = SH, Money = M, Line = L