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I think 25 is Poll - as explained by twm sounds like (heard on the radio - this expression is used quite often by setters) The defn is "head" - lead - poll (position)..man from warsaw being a Pole

I'd go with the earlier answer of 'poll' which can mean 'crown' or 'pate' ie top of one's head.

A belated thank you to chrisg and kiwikid. I can now finally see why the answer to 25a is in fact poll. Not a good day so far as even my horse selections are losing, well, as the Arabs say, that is the life.