No 13816, Saturday 18 Mar 2023, Crescent

ACROSS

7   Aware of tailing pair at once (6) PRONTO {ONTO}<=>{PR}

8   Uncovered huge ramps built outside old temple towers (8) GOPURAMS {hUGe+RAMPS}* over {O}

9   Crack shot (4) SNAP [DD]

10 Absent-mindedness of boss taken in pronounced good spirit (5,5) BROWN STUDY {STUD} in {(~brownie)BROWNY}

11 Wine and song clearing international deal abroad (8) MUSCADEL {MUSiC}DEAL*}

12 Plenty of heads undergoing decapitation (6) OOODLES nOODLES

14 Forgetting about Britain once in French town (4) ALBI Anno pending (Addendum ALBIon - See comments)

15 Predatory bird runs on purpose (5) SAKER {R}<=>{SAKE}

16 Award resembling a jewel without a hint of gold (4) EMMY gEMMY

18 Articulations happening to break notes (6) JOINTS {JO{IN}TS}

20 Rent utes and haul giving normal fare (3,5) THE USUAL {UTES+HAUL}*

22 Case of poop in water causing lump in the throat (5,5) ADAMS APPLE {PooP} in {ADAMS ALE}

24 Characters in Ahvaz answering call to prayer (4) AZAN [T]

25 Wonderful cast just missing an Oscar (8) HEAVENLY {HEAVE}{oNLY}

26 Parrots straining without crests (6) APEXES {AP{EX}ES}

DOWN

1   Still in shadow around quarter past noon (8) TRANQUIL {TRAIL} over {QU}<=>{N}

2   Check parking charges in zone (10) INSPECTION {IN}{S{P}ECTION}

3   Bar, short piece in cross (6) FORBID {FOR{BIt}D}

4   Drop one slip following over where restrictions are removed (4-4) OPEN-DOOR {DROP+ONE}*<=>{O}

5   Incompetent sailor back from ship retires (4) PRAT {TAR}{shiP}<=

6   Dirty spades with soil on sides of garage (6) SMUDGE {S}{MUD}{Ga...gE}

8   Oily pork stew boiled with bit of garlic and mushroom (4,4,5) GROW LIKE TOPSY {OILY+PORK+STEW+Ga...c}*

13 Old-fashioned fencing épées cast firmly held (4-6) DEEP-SEATED {D{EPEES*}ATED}

15 Bears in America caught in spots (8) SUSTAINS {S{US}TAINS}

17 Devices to butcher tame revolutionary alliances (4-4) MEAT-AXES {TAME}*{AXES}

19 Classic numbers, look back on those making impressions (6) OLDIES {LO<=}{DIES}

21 Grate behind threshold for bird (6) EVEJAR {JAR}<=>{EVE}

23 Action film, one being screened (4) MOVE MOViE

Reference List

Pair = PR, Old = O, International = I, Runs = R, Happening = IN, Oscar = O, Quarter = QU, Noon = N, Parking = P, Cross = FORD, Over = O, Sailor = TAR. Spades = S, Look = LO