Sat Indy

[ulysses100]

Some say that they had problems in the top left hand corner which I had no problems with ( save "canoes") ; my trouble is bottom right. If Shanks's pony is correct -- and why ? I know that �25 is a pony -- what is the answer to "Girl's halfway in Pop Idol " ?E?O
All I can think of is Hero, but why ?

[kettledrum]

hero: girl's = her, & 'o' is halfway in pop

[ulysses100]

Thanks kettledrum --- as you say, why is it always the little ones that cause problems ?

[kettledrum]

I suppose I've 'finished' it, but like you I don't entirely understand shanks's pony; likewise 5d, 16d, 21d, 27a & 28a. I don't want to spoil everyone else's fun but if there's something obvious you think I might be missing, could you give me a hint? Thanks

[ulysses100]

5d (S)iberia without its capital gives a peninsula, but why northern ?
16d Dependent = habitual h + anagram "built a" -- buggy means crazy (horrible !) and I don't know why "pair" in the clue
21d I'm not sure either except that a sad, or blue, film can make you cry , and tart = pie
27a Athene is a classical goddess -- of wisdom and prudence
28ac probably the only one I can properly qualify ! A "leg" is a stage in a race, e.g. and "end" is curtains, and a celebrity is a legend

Not an easy week, unlike last weekend's one !

[kettledrum]

Thank you Ulysses. Your thought processes are almost the same as mine. 5d. Quite!! why northern? & I don't even think Siberia is a republic ( willing to be corrected). 16a ? a pair of H A nds + a + built ? - agree with you it's horrible.
27a I hadn't realised Athene was goodess of prudence as well as wisdom. I knew her mother, Metis, was. And thank you for 28a - at least that's sorted.!

I only take the Indy on a Sat - specially for the Xword *- and don't think I've come across Scorpion before. Have you?

*mainly for the Magazine Xword, & I'm also enjoying the super sudoku