Sunday Post Cryptic 17Th Aug 2014

[cleodog]

3d duck in a painting on a vessel (5) a-r-- 15d dignify sending the spanish hat unfinshed ( 7) e-n-b-- 17d the thank you letter (5) --e-- 5a (6) many like a city one in south africa d-r-a- Is that Durban and if so why? 10a lady dislodged a mans hat (8) -a---t-a 16a no leader to get score (4)---h Any help much appreciated. thanks in advance

[scorpiojo]

3 a o rt a

[sandyRoe]

15d ennoble
17 the ta
5a durban, yes. 500=D + urban

[scorpiojo]

15 ennoble
D (500/many) urban

[JoolsTwo]

15d Ennoble

[scorpiojo]

10 Samantha

[factor-fiction]

10a lady dislodged a man's hat (8) SAMANTHA

[glasman]

17d Theta

[ferinlay]

re. 3 down. Can you explain why Aorta applies to the clue Duck in painting on a vessel. I know it must be right, I just can't figure out the connection. Thanks, sorry to be so dumb.

[bibblebub]

duck = O
in painting = put that^ inside ART
on a = append an A

AoRT A = [blood] vessel

[factor-fiction]

painting is ART
duck= O
onA = A

[factor-fiction]

And it's a blood vessel

[factor-fiction]

Well it's an artery