Across
Function of aide in prisoner release (6)
Does the author have what it takes to keep clubs friendly? (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
C(lubs) in AM I ABLE
Better grind out a result here? (5,6)
One within range for each record (3)
Receiving bill, face down innkeeper (7)
Mass this month either side of Easter in church (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
M(ass) + INST, this month, + E(aste)R. Does anyone still use inst or ult, or prox?
Poem roughly about area belonging to university city (7,7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
LAND OF U(niversity) + RIO, in OR SO, roughly. An epic poem by Ariosto, that I had vaguely heard of. You might struggle with this one, if you hadn’t! It is also the title of two operas by Vivaldi. It has come up on TfTT before, last time in 2022.
Booted, finally get them sparkling, in military order (7,7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
*((ge)T + THEM + SPARKLING). I just BIFD this, I’m afraid. According to Wikipedia the Knights Templar were disbanded in 1312! The similar order, Knights Hospitaller, fared better and is still around today, under different names.
Take off tights, possibly grabbing pair at the back, and throw (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
(pai)R in UN HOSE, to remove tights, not that I ever have. Nor been unhorsed, come to that. Must get out more ..
Citizen breaks into a run around country (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
OMANI is the citizen, in A R(un) reversed.
A little spirit, dismissing opening batter with it (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
(d)RAM, a little spirit. Another one with no clear definition, just a hint to a battering ram ..
Bearing up, in case police finally call (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SHOULD (in case) + (polic)E + RING, call. There must be some situation where in case = should. How about “In case/should Mr Farage call(s), tell him I’m out.” That very nearly works…
Randomly choose from Spooner's few remaining beds (4,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
LAST COTS, according to Spooner. I have learnt to love Spoonerisms, but don’t think it was easy.
Fruit hard to find in foreign school (6)
Down
Advertise vacancy where result's already decided? (3-2,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A DD, the first jocular. What some call a “Cryptic hint,” perhaps.
Crop warped in the ear (3)
Lower rent supported by county (3,4)
Grammar essentially a barrier, monarch for one abandoned Japanese (5,9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MA + DAM (barrier) + (Monarch) BUTTERFLY. But I don’t really understand how you get from “Grammar essentially” to MA. The letters are in there right enough, but so are AM or RA or MM … must be missing something. Ah, OK now I do. It is (gra)M(mar), which is the middle bit, + A + the rest. Silly me. Another clue I just bifd at the time. I will leave my original meanderings in place for posterity..
City's vital energy keeping queen up (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ANNE, rev. in CHI, vital energy. Chennai, once called Madras, a name that lives on now only in curry houses.
The Black Horse loans out a room you'd look better to leave (6,5)
No longer cheeking master? (6)
Dismissal from Wellington's command? (5,2,3,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Wellington boots, originally leather but now rubber, were indeed originated and popularised by the (1st) Duke of Wellington.
Official initially dropped, only had a most unreliable Welsh linesman (5,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
*((o)NLY HAD A MOST). Unreliable as an anagrind? I guess.
One beaten by a different sort of player in a frame of snooker (8)
Gear raised a very large stone (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RIG (gear) reversed, + A SO L(arge). A type of opal.
A parent myself, backing your ostentatious ceremony (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MUM (a parent) + ME, myself, + YR (your) rev.
Chafe over endlessly prolific set of instructions (6)
Sort of mishap, map in parts missing (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
(m)ISH(ap).
Type letters or click words in the clue