| I found this relatively straightforward. Rather a lot of multi-word double definitions. I enjoyed 3d and 5d, and got tripped up by 2d. I came in at c. 8 min.
Across |
|
| 1 | Take foolish risks in drama, and shoot (4,4,4) |
| PLAY WITH FIRE – Double definitions | |
| 8 | Bouquet dispatched, we’re told (5) |
| SCENT – sounds like ‘sent’ | |
| 9 | Dabbler, pal, invested in gold rings, initially (7) |
| AMATEUR – MATE inside AU (gold) and R (first letter of ‘rings’) | |
| 10 | Some scrutinising wheel track (3) |
| RUT – hidden word: scRUTinising | |
| 11 | Hurdler, perhaps, or chaser, unfortunately last of twelve (9) |
| RACEHORSE – anagram (‘unfortunately’) of OR CHASER + E (last letter of ‘twelve’) | |
| 13 | Added to hotel, de luxe (5) |
| PLUSH – PLUS + H | |
| 14 | Bad-tempered blackleg, extremely testy (5) |
| RATTY – RAT + TY (‘extremes’ of TESTY) | |
| 16 | Happen to get hold of seat (4,5) |
| TAKE PLACE – double definition | |
| 17 | Bird hidden by the murmuration (3) |
| EMU – hidden word: thE MUrmuration | |
| 19 | Looks round about — not a pretty sight (7) |
| EYESORE – EYES (looks) + O (round) + RE (about) | |
| 21 | Saddle strap, right when adjusted (5) |
| GIRTH – anagram (‘adjusted’) of RIGHT | |
| 22 | Part of submarine deceiving tug? (7,5) |
| CONNING TOWER – double definitions | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Ask setter, finally, for puzzle (5) |
| POSER – POSE (ask) + R | |
| 2 | Lost for words as we crashed lorry (9) |
| AWESTRUCK – anagram (‘crashed’) of AS WE, with TRUCK. Hands up who spent ages trying to crowbar in the word ‘ARTIC’ | |
| 3 | Film moderates casing joint (9,4) |
| WATERSHIP DOWN – WATERS DOWN (moderates) with HIP inside | |
| 4 | Roofing material which covers church (6) |
| THATCH – THAT + CH | |
| 5 | Dread force arresting the boxer (13) |
| FEATHERWEIGHT – FEAR (dread) + WEIGHT (force) with THE inbetween | |
| 6 | Vintage port or whiskey? (3) |
| RYE – Double definition. Rye is a historic port in East Sussex, so I suppose you could call it vintage. Jars a bit though. | |
| 7 | Gluttonous Greek eyed nervously (6) |
| GREEDY – GR (Greek) + anagram (‘nervously’) of EYED | |
| 12 | Awful racket in road crossing Hyde Park (6,3) |
| ROTTEN ROW – double definition. Bit of a general knowledge clue, to be fair. | |
| 13 | Speak, under pressure, in golf club (6) |
| PUTTER – UTTER under P for pressure | |
| 15 | New TV near bar (6) |
| TAVERN – anagram (‘new’) of TV NEAR | |
| 18 | Poe character, American good guy deprived of love (5) |
| USHER – US HERO minus the O. Refers to The Fall Of The House Of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe | |
| 20 | Conceit, for example, obvious at the start (3) |
| EGO – EG + O | |
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