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I have a feeling this will be a busy thread this week:-)

With just 5 entiries from two passes I think this is out of my league, Is anyone over there up at this hour to lend a hand? Only done 1,2,3,14,16a,19. Is this the typical level for Prize crosswords? If so I'll stick with the dailies for a while. I'm new to this particular puzzle, but thought I did last week's without much trouble.

Hi Paul,

I wouldn't be too disheartened, this is exceptionally difficult.

In terms of help, there is a long anagram in the acrosses that might help you out along with a hidden in the downs..

paulnz, I agree with Brendan that this is an unusually difficult Prize.
(Spoiler alert): I found the hidden just mentioned by Brendan to be extremely useful in figuring out "how this puzzle works"...

Thanks both. I'll crack on.

Hi Brendan and Geeker,
I didn't find this easy, either. I confess to using a list of theme words and reverse engineering to work out the parsing for many.
25a. is an odd one, as it would be an indirect anagram - a supposed no-no?

Yes, mattrom, 25 does look like an indirect anagram. I only recently learned that i.a. are considered dubious! I never shared that opinion, always figured they were fair play, just another setting device...which probably makes me a cretin who'd get flamed in the 225 comment section. :-)

Is 3 a famous organ piece by Bach?

👍

Thanks, Brendan. Yes I get the "repeated note" and the "a" but not what's perfectly around them, but who cares cos at least I got it right! Anyway I loathe Paul and possibly have better things to do today than stumble wearily through this pile. Your assurance on 3 means I have actually completed five answers which may justify my retirement in this case! All best. :-)