No 13548, Thursday 05 May 2022, Dr. X

Solution to 20D 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   Excited as dolphins go round gulf showing extreme smartness (4,3,6)  SPIT AND POLISH {AS+DOLPHINS}* over {PIT}

8   Cocaine found in largely dirty boat (5) SCULL {S{C}ULLy}

9   Halt to check solitary vehicle leaving a plant (9) STONECROP {ST{ONE}{CaR}OP}

11 Head of psychiatry, enthralled by exotic ward nurse in secret (5,5) UNDER WRAPS {Ps...y} in {WARD+NURSE}*

12 Almost bare, showing heavenly body (4) STAR STARk

14 Nick’s son runs into difficulty (7) SCRATCH {S}{C{R}ATCH}

16 Dessert in container, primarily nutritious and oil-free (7) CANNOLI {CAN}{Nu...s}{OIL*}

17 Sing after drinking one primarily intoxicating wine (7) CHIANTI {CH{1}ANT}{In...g}

19 Pouring out small measure of spirits after securing victory (7) SPEWING {S}{PE{WIN}G}

21 Loses head, pushes referees briefly (4) UMPS pUMPS

22 What curator at cricket stadium will do to bid for contract? (4,1,5) MAKE A PITCH [DD]

25 Urinal with tap flowing, getting waterproof sheet (9) TARPAULIN*

26 Restriction to go topless around zone in Turkish city (5) IZMIT {lI{Z}MIT}

27 Woe as disc ruptured — compelled to tackle beastly problem (3,3,7) MAD COW DISEASE {WOE+AS+DISC}* in {MADE}

DOWN

2   Strip down after finishing off a lap dance (7) PLUNDER {UNDER}<=>{LaP}*

3   Suffering in latrine, got sick (10) TOLERATING*

4   Dark film genre involves savagery primarily? Certainly not (2,3) NO SIR {NO{Sa...y}IR}

5   Probabilities in favour of splinter groups acquiring power (9) PROSPECTS {PRO}{S{P}ECTS}

6   Covers large picture in retreat (4) LEES {L}{SEE<=}

7   Mammals turned up to eat meat finally in last passage (7) STRETTO {OTTER{meaT}S<=}

8   So curt about crushing defeat in sporting venue (6,5) SQUASH COURT {SO+CURT}* over {QUASH}

10 Trendy girl in scenes, torrid, getting final critical remark (7,4) PARTING SHOT {PART{IN}{G}S}{HOT}

13 Drive by river lined by swaying pine trees (10) ENTERPRISE {R} in {PINE+TREES}*

15 Hate liar’s crafty wife becoming legal successor (4-2-3) HEIR-AT-LAW {HATE+LIAR}*{W}

18 A rapist’s beaten up in Turkish city (7) ISPARTA*

20 Lies like this, cuddling maiden’s neck (7) I?T?M?S (Addendum - ISTHMUS - {IS THUS} over {M} - See comments)

23 Rotten nuisance contributing to lassitude (5) ENNUI [T]

24 Crowd knocked back brandy made from refuse of grapes (4) MARC<=

Reference List

Cocaine = C, Son = S, Runs = R, Small = S, Zone = Z, Power = P, Large = L, Trendy = IN, Girl = G, River = R, Wife = W, Maiden = M