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Being a newcomer to cryptics I thought I'd have a go at this but am only halfway and already struggling.

A pop star ultimately out of contact - E_C_

Blemish in timber article in old museum - A___O___N

Race went fast for men in show of great skill - _O__ _E _R___ (Tour de France fits but can't see why other than it's a race)

Hi Brendan; when putting clues down please put the number of letters!

2nd one; ASHMOLEAN

Thanks Paul, as soon as i got 'hey presto' going across I saw it.

2nd one might be Ashmoleon if it's 9 letters.

somebody else answered the 1st one earlier.

each = pop, as in £5 a pop (each)

reach less R (last letter of star)

Thanks. I've got another letter for the last one -

_O_R _E _R---- Which makes it more likely it's TOUR de FRANCE but can't see why.

tour de force (show of great skill)

take out OR (other ranks/men)

put in ran (went fast)

= tour de france

You're a star, I would never have got that in a million years. Cheers.

Can't get final three:-

Outwardly praise god when confining traitor one is putting down (10) _E_O_A____

Informally, one has to support hospital where people are busy (4) ___E

Rain over lake and narrow ridge (4) ___T

P(raise)E + RAT I in JOVE

H + I've

Wet over L