No 14736, Monday 09 Mar 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 20D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Dash after catching ball and raise cap (5,3) ROUND OFF {R{O}UN}{DOFF} 

5   Viper moving closer to rodent in shrub (6) PRIVET {VIPER*}{r...nT}

10 Ecstasy put in bracer affected parts of the brain (7) CEREBRA {C{E}REBRA*}

11 Overeat and turn green after drinking spirit (7) ENGORGE {EN{GO}RGE*}

12 Turned plump in a posh Pacific atoll (5) ATAFU {A}{FAT<=}{U}

13 Man running bare in the open near this place (9) HEREABOUT {HE}{BARE*}{OUT}

14 Quiet! Trooper has distracted marksman (12) SHARPSHOOTER {SH}{TROOPER+HAS}*

18 Perhaps horse might start to accelerate on time in last stretch of racecourse (4,8) HOME STRAIGHT {HORSE+MIGHT+Ac...e}*{T}

21 Obstruction in middle of duct, colon is twisted (9) OCCLUSION {dUCt+COLON+IS}*

23 Master avoids method acting, performs Shakespeare-style (5) DOETH mETHOD*

24 Crisp tale about Irish revolutionary (7) FRIABLE {F{IR<=}ABLE}

25 Queen consort of Jordan welcomed by popular Middle Easterner (7) IRANIAN {I{RANIA}N}

26 Good check, trapping amateur's queen (6) REGINA {RE{G}IN}{A} 

27 Medical device used to scoop abscesses essentially (8) OTOSCOPE {TO+SCOOP}*{a..cEs..s}

DOWN

1  Tribal gangster chasing vehicle around island (6) RACIAL {AL}<=>{CAR<=} over {I}

2   Synthetic chemical compound contains nitrogen and trace of lithium (6) UNREAL {U{N}REA}{Li...m}

3   Desires to have fun essentially after young socialite seduces (9) DEBAUCHES {A{fUn}CHES}<=>{DEB}

4   Silly exploit by that woman cavorting bare in department (7-7) FEATHER BRAINED {FEAT}{HER}{BARE+IN}*{D}

6   Kid beginning to groove to a style of dance music (5) RAGGA {RAG}{Gr...e}{A}

7   Flavoured wine with exceptionally trimmed chops (8) VERMOUTH {VERy}{MOUTH}

8   See 16

9   Medical expert's so cute - intern is aroused (14) NEUROSCIENTIST*

15 Snakes concealed on island inside old containers (9) OPHIDIANS  {HID}{I} in {O}{PANS}

16 & 8 What camera crew will do to dream big (5,3,3,5) SHOOT FOR THE STARS [DD]

17 Slapping leader after atrocious scam (8) SMACKING {KING}<=>{SCAM}*

19 Customer in outlet checking a fine woollen yarn (6) MERINO [T]

20 Group eating hot starter of eggs and beef (6) ?H?N?E ()Addendum - WHINGE {W{H}ING}{Eggs} - See comments)

22 Municipal director removed from South African city (5) URBAN dURBAN

Reference List

Ecstasy = E, Spirit = GO, Posh = U, Quiet = SH, Time = T, Master = M, Popular = IN, Good = G, Amateur = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Island = I, Young socialite = DEB, Department = D, Island = I, Old = O, Hot = H,  Director = D