Monday, January 19, 2015 — DT 27566

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 27566
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27566]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Gazza
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ / ★★★	Enjoyment - ★★
Falcon's Experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - yet to be solved

Introduction

I did not find today's puzzle to be overly difficult. However, I did need a small assist from my electronic helpers to get the vowels properly positioned in the British isle.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in all-in-one (&lit.) clues, semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//). Definitions presented in blue text are for terms that appear frequently.

Across

1a   Stroke // is worried about onset of squall (6)

4a   Maiden, 20 -- // will this bring her good luck? (6)

The numeral "20" in the clue is a cross reference indicator directing the solver to insert the solution to clue 20a in its place to complete the clue.

In cricket, a maiden^[5], also known as a maiden over, (abbreviation M)^[5] is an over in which no runs are scored. An over^[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

Ascot Racecourse^[7] is an English racecourse, located in the village of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races. The course is closely associated with the British Royal Family, being approximately six miles from Windsor Castle. 

The Royal Ascot^[7] is the centrepiece of Ascot's year and dates back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne. The event extends over five days, with sixteen group races on offer, with at least one Group One event each day. A dress code is strictly enforced for guests attending the Royal Enclosure. For women, only a day dress with a hat is acceptable, with rules applying to the length and style of the dress [but presumably not to the hat, judging by the illustration in Gazza's review]. In addition, women must not show bare midriffs or shoulders. For men, black or grey morning dress with top hat is required.

8a   Former examination // based on livestock raising (8)

10a   Slowly stocking a // shed, perhaps (4-2)

In music, lento^[5] is (1) an adjective or adverb meaning (especially as a direction) slow or slowly; or (2) a noun denoting a passage or movement marked to be performed slowly.

11a   OT character captured by Grandma Moses (4)

Amos^[5] is a book of the Bible — found in the Old Testament — containing the prophecies of Amos, a Hebrew minor prophet (circa 760 BC), a shepherd of Tekoa, near Jerusalem.

Scratching the Surface
Grandma Moses[5] (1860–1961) was an American painter; byname of Anna Mary Robertson Moses. She took up painting as a hobby when widowed in 1927, producing more than a thousand paintings in naive style, mostly of American rural life.

12a   Offer to pay // inexperienced beginner (10)

Tenderfoot^[5] is (1) a chiefly North American term [as I suspected] for a newcomer or novice, especially a person unaccustomed to hardship ⇒ (i) the journey is not recommended for the tenderfoot; (ii) a tenderfoot Englishman who couldn’t find his way in the woods; or (2) a dated term for a new member of the Scout or Guide movement who has passed the enrolment tests.

13a   Play // a Saviour in musical (4,8)

Annie^[7] is a Broadway musical based upon the popular comic strip Little Orphan Annie created by American cartoonist Harold Gray (1894–1968). The original Broadway production, which opened in 1977, ran for nearly six years and won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Anna Christie^[7] is a play by American playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953) which made its Broadway debut in November 1921. O'Neill received the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this work.

16a   /One must have/ been in variety with fine female actor /as/ fairy godmother (12)

Despite coming at the beginning of the clue rather than in the middle, the phrase "one must have" fulfills a function not unlike that of a link phrase. In effect, it indicates "[to obtain the solution to the clue] one must have".

20a   People attending curriculum /in/ York, maybe (10)

York Racecourse^[7] is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It stages three of the UK's 31 Group One races. [Did you detect the discrepancy between the information provided here and that presented at 4a? Which do you think is correct? (Answer below)]

Group One^[7] (or Group 1) is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Canada and the US, the term "Grade I" is used instead. These races, whether designated as "Group One" or "Grade I", attract the best horses, and are for very large stake money.

Answer: Seemingly, neither figure is correct. In another article, Wikipedia lists 35 Group One races in Great Britain^[7].

21a   Small, Whittington's cat, say, turned back /on/ stage (4)

Dick Whittington and His Cat^[7] is the name of English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London, telling a story of how he supposedly escaped his poverty-stricken childhood and made his fortune thanks to the ratting abilities of his cat. However, the real Whittington did not come from a poor family of common stock, and there is no compelling evidence supporting the stories about the cat, or even whether he owned one.

Scratching the Surface

Another element considered essential to the Whittington legend is that Dick attempted to flee his service as a scullion one night, but was dissuaded by the tone of the church bells, which promised he would become mayor of London one day. As a result, he "turned back" and retraced his steps [thereby explaining the comment made by Gazza in his review]. The Whittington story[7] was adapted for the stage as a play, The History of Richard Whittington, of his lowe byrth, his great fortune, in February 1604. In the 19th century this became popular as a pantomime called Dick Whittington and His Cat, very loosely based on Richard Whittington.

22a   Colas I ordered /for/ party (6)

23a   Difficult to understand // coteries breaking up (8)

24a   Film // Greek facility (6)

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Greece is GR^[5].

Grease^[7] is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy film based on the1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta and  Olivia Newton-John.

25a   Sat awkwardly with ex-con /in/ prison camp (6)

Lag^[5] is an informal British term for a person who has been frequently convicted and sent to prison ⇒ both old lags were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

In the Second World War, a stalag^[5] was a German prison camp, especially for non-commissioned officers and privates.

Down

1d   Petitioner, // one inside demanding attention (8)

Clamant^[5] is an adjective meaning urgently demanding attention ⇒ the proper use of biotechnology has become a clamant question.

2d   Artist put up // prices (5)

A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA^[5]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts^[5], an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain.

3d   Withdraw // money (7)

5d   Complaint /got from/ working in metal (7)

6d   Paid driver // to point out coniferous tree, reportedly (9)

7d   Display // tawdry articles as well (6)

Tat^[5] is an informal British term for tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewellery, or ornaments ⇒ the place was decorated with all manner of gaudy tat.

In his review, Gazza alludes to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo^[7], an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands and display teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The event takes place annually throughout August, as part of the wider Edinburgh Festival (a collective name for many independent festivals and events held in Edinburgh during August).

9d   Ran infidels off // Holy Island (11)

I looked up my solution to verify the spelling only to discover that I had interchanged a couple of vowels. Well, the fact that I had never encountered the place before should justify this shortcoming to some extent.

Lindisfarne^[5] is a small island off the coast of Northumberland, north of the Farne Islands. Linked to the mainland by a causeway exposed only at low tide, it is the site of a church and monastery founded by St Aidan in 635. Also called Holy Island.

14d   Stroll, leading team, /in/ part of the Lake District (9)

Ambleside^[7] is a town in Cumbria, in North West England. Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake. The town is within the Lake District National Park.

15d   Escorting // female into upper-class circle (8)

In Britain, U^[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒ U manners. The term, an abbreviation of  upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).

17d   Chinese food /in/ new bags (7)

Bags of^[5] is an informal, chiefly British expression meaning plenty of ⇒ I had bags of energy.

18d   Silly person hiding her // cigar (7)

A cheroot^[2,5,10] is a cigar with both ends open (cut off squarely at both ends). 

On Friday, we had a great man smoking one of these in bed. Today we have a silly woman hiding hers. Now tell me, who is really the silly one.

19d   Adult, for short time, appearing in mighty // loose garment (6)

The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate^[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate.

21d   Turn // Indian sign (5)

Indian sign^[5] is a dated term for a magic spell or curse.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon