No 13820, Thursday 23 Mar 23, Dr. X

Solution to 23D 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   Collection of valuable objects in safe stolen by party on cruise (8,5) TREASURE TROVE {TREA{SURE}T}{ROVE}

8   Cocaine for prince, daily affair (5) CAPER (-p+c)CAPER

9   Early type of human cultivated mango and corn (3-6) CRO-MAGNON {MANGO+CORN}*

11 Spectacle shot on phone enthrals fellows (10) PHENOMENON {ON+PHONE}* over {MEN}

12 Long back massage at end of marathon (4) BURN {RUB<=}{m...oN}

14 Paid the bill in bar, rose to have lunch (7) TREATED {T}{R{EAT}ED}

16 See India's opener playing in game (7) IMAGINE {In..a}{IN+GAME}*

17 Forces poor boy (5,2) LEANS ON {LEAN}{SON}

19 Fellow provided backing in turnaround of transport business (7) TRAFFIC {F}{IF<=} in {CART<=}

21 Quality of chateau, ramshackle (4) AURA [T]

22 Student involved in vile crime, desperate for food (10) VERMICELLI {L} in {VILE+CRIME}*

25 Anxiously name voyeurs roaming outside entrance to loo (9) NERVOUSLY {N}{ERVOUS{Loo}Y*}

26 Capture one maniac abducting president (5) INPUT {1}{N{P}UT}

27 What teacher might do at end of class to win everything (5,3,5) SWEEP THE BOARD [DD]

DOWN

2   Charged peer, intoxicated without permit (7) REPLETE {REP{LET}E*}

3   Neerja for one is a hero, shot protecting travellers primarily with extreme selflessness (3,7) AIR HOSTESS {IS+A+HERO}* over {Tr...s} and {Se...eS} Semi&lit

4   Relative is hazy after finishing off a bit of rum (5) UNCLE UNCLEar

5   Financial expert in old film pursuing English criminal (9) ECONOMIST {O}{MIST}<=>{E}{CON}

6   Most eager to study (4) READ READy

7   Invert jars over U-tube (7) VENTURI {VENT{U}RI*}

8   Profit from information about a poor gal abducted by murderer (7,4) CAPITAL GAIN {TIP<=}{A}{GAL*} in {CAIN}

10 Nobody accepting director's screenplay - it's uninteresting (11) NONDESCRIPT {NON{D}E}{SCRIPT}

13 Monarch is tottering after drinking a liqueur (10) MARASCHINO {MONARCH+IS}* over {A}

15 Hotel in desert arranged table service (6,3) DINNER SET {D{INN}ERSET*}

18 Flight personnel in terrible war crime killing many (7) AIRCREW {WAR+CRImE}*

20 Rock-forming mineral with iron on large box (7) FELSPAR {FE}{L}{SPAR}

23 Loud noise from the south across yard, a little eerie perhaps (5) M?Y?E (Addendum MAYBE {B{Y}AM<=}{Ee..e} -  See comments)

24 Miss in topless bar (4) LOSE cLOSE

Reference List

Cocaine = C, Prince = P, Bar = T, Rose = RED, Fellow = F, Student = L, Name = N, President = P, Old = O, English = E, Criminal = CON, Murdere = CAIN,  Director = D, Many = M, Large = L, Box = SPAR, Yard = Y