help needed please if possible - just struggling today with this crossword:
9D: hound, in itself appealing ( cryptic) (9) P_ R_ E_ _ _E
23A BESTOWING A KNIGHTHOOD ON (7) _ _ _ B_N _
40A AMONG THE BEST OF ITS ERA (7) _I_T_G_
39D EXPERIENCED PERFORMER (7) _R_U_E_