The Sunday Crossword No 3303, Sunday 21 Apr 2024

ACROSS

1   Polar animal's stomach? (4) BEAR [DD]

3   Performing culinary operation on – foolishly – rock pigeon (10) PRECOOKING*

9   In conversation, much time shared by you and me (4) OURS (~hours)

10 Eggs and lice covering rancid president's workplace (4,6) OVAL OFFICE {OVA}{L{OFF}ICE}

11 Cheers that man, earlier sad, starting to brood (4,3,5) DOWN THE HATCH {HE}<=>{DOWN}{To} and {HATCH}

15 Sluggishness, batting: time to win it back? (7) INERTIA {IN}{ER{IT<=}A}

16 Dog's cross: that is, a little labradoodle (7) SPANIEL {SPAN}{IE}{La...e}

17 Unbroken, like a Manx cat? (7) ENDLESS [DD]

19 Colloquially, largest; most like the ocean? (7) TIDIEST [DD]

20 Some sets of twins resemble each other (7,5) DOUBLES MATCH {DOUBLES}{MATCH}

23 Trade ideas, wild wishes (10) DESIDERATA*

24 Illegally assist a venture (4) ABET {A}{BET}

25 Flights that may lead to landings? (10) STAIRCASES [CD]

26 Step back, seeing Afghans, Abyssinians, etc? (4) PETS<=

DOWN

1   Dilapidated sideboards getting batterings (10) BROADSIDES*

2   So, hardware flying around? (10) ARROWHEADS* &lit

4   Region including villas in exclusive resort areas, primarily? (7) RIVIERA Acrostic &lit

5   Blearily recalls wine in large amounts (7) CELLARS*

6   Ministry of Defence to get 'non-clerical' if Foreign Office to retire bureaucrats (11) OFFICIALDOM {MOD}{LAIC}{IF}{FO}<=

7   Everyman is to receive visitor, finally: one bearing large showy flowers (4) IRIS {I}{v...oR}{IS}

8   Celt's outburst can be heard (4) GAEL (~gale)

12 Champion with spine, usually? (5-6) TITLE-HOLDER [C&DD]

13 Note, twice: establishment for racehorses where multiplication is demanded (5,5) TIMES TABLE {TI}{ME}{STABLE}

14 Hot drinks or dry Rieslings? (4,6) FLAT WHITES {FLAT}{WHITES}

18 I will be found in Balkan state: bold to move to find unwelcoming place (7) SIBERIA {I} in {S(+b)BER(-b)IA}

19 Well-earnt rest, leisurely accepting support (7) TRESTLE [T]

21 Poems praising systems of regulation not started (4) ODES cODES

22 Accept only part of repurchase agreement, being in the Black? (4) ASEA [T]

Reference List

Batting = IN, Non=clerical = LAIC, Note = TI, ME, Bold = B