Listener Crossword 4610: Solution Notes
Tale of the Unexpected by Lath
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle marked the Epsom Derby win by WINGS OF EAGLES (reading upwards in the main diagonal), horse number 18 (dummy clue number), at odds of 40/1 (swapped clue numbers with greatest difference) in 2017 (swapped clue numbers with smallest difference). The dummy clue was a jumble of the names of the trainer AIDAN O’BRIEN and the jockey PADRAIG BEGGY. The first letters of the swapped clues formed EPSOM DOWNS; the curve in the grid traced DERBY, ONE MILE AND FOUR FURLONGS, following the shape of the racetrack (using either middle N of 6dn). The puzzle was published on what would have been the day of the 2020 Derby, if it hadn’t been cancelled.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Entry | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | 40ac | DARFUR | RF in DAUR |
| 7 | DISMAL | DIS + MAL | |
| 12 | 45ac | CARDIO | CARD + IO |
| 14 | AUBERGE | AUBERGINE − IN | |
| 15 | HELIMEN | LIMEN after HE; “heliman” is an example in Chambers’ entry for “heli-” | |
| 16 | BRED | BR + E + D | |
| 17 | 20dn | LEFTY | LEY around FT |
| 19 | NARIAL | (N + L) around ARIA | |
| 21 | 44ac | GISARME | (GERMAN − N + IS) * |
| 22 | DWALM | (IN + DWALM) * = WILD MAN | |
| 25 | ENEWING | ENG around (NEW + I) | |
| 27 | FANS | FAN’S | |
| 29 | OFFENSIVE | OFFENBACH with IVES * for BACH | |
| 32 | TART | TRAT < | |
| 34 | ROUEN | COURTESAN * − CATS * | |
| 37 | GUILTY | GUY around (I + LT) | |
| 38 | GAPE | G + APE | |
| 40 | 1ac | SHREIK | SHEIK around R |
| 42 | LONG SIN | LONGS + IN | |
| 43 | NOD | (DOWN − W) * | |
| 44 | 21ac | ISATINE | IS + A + TINE |
| 45 | 12ac | OEUVRE | O(p)E(n) U(p) V(e)R(n)E |
| 46 | SATAY | SAY around (me)AT | |
| 47 | PRESSED | PRESS + ED | |
| Down | |||
| 2 | HEEHAW | EH < + E + HAW | |
| 3 | RULER | (R + R) around ULE | |
| 4 | IRMA | (a)IRMA(n) | |
| 5 | KEEL | LEEK < | |
| 6 | TANNIN | ANN in TIN | |
| 7 | DUMOSE | DOSE around UM | |
| 8 | IBO | OBI < | |
| 9 | SEBAT | SAT around EB(b) | |
| 10 | AGEING | (Mess)AGE IN G(erman) | |
| 11 | LEDGERED | LEDGE + RED | |
| 13 | 35dn | USNEAS | (USE + AS) around N |
| 15 | HAND | HAN + D | |
| 18 | YAWN | (dummy clue) | |
| 20 | 17ac | NOYAU | ((Newq)UAY ON(ly)) < |
| 23 | ANTIRUST | NATURIST * | |
| 24 | MORTUARY | MARY around (OR + TU) | |
| 26 | NINA | NINJA − J | |
| 27 | FOG-DOGS | FOG + DOGS | |
| 28 | AQUARIA | QUA in (A + RIA) | |
| 30 | EOZOIC | E + (b)OZO + I/C | |
| 31 | SEGGARS | GAR in SEGS | |
| 33 | ALFA | ALA around F | |
| 34 | ROLFER | GOLFER with R for G | |
| 35 | 13dn | VIGILS | I in (V + GI(r)LS) |
| 36 | OPIOID | OP + I + O + ID | |
| 39 | ENDOW | EN + DOW | |
| 41 | RUMP | RUM + P | |