The Spectator N0 2488

[Matakari]

The last set of clues for which I seek answers/hints before embarking on the UNCLUEDS.
Thanks again for your help!

ACROSS:
5 Fly eggs not at all good on head (6) : ?S?A??
28 Perplexed equine swallowing short nail (7, three words) : ???L?S?
( AT A LOSS?)
43 Rick, Republican, arrested by monarchy (6) : ??R?I?

DOWN:
1 Chap about town treated in ambulance, not A&E (7) : ?L?T?A?
29 Rascal has to run, admitting blunder (6) : T?R???

[Mamyalynne]

28 Yes

Talo(n) in Ass

[Toorak]

43 a European country that is a monarchy round the usual abbreviation for republican

[bobbinwales]

terror

[Captain2]

1d Clubman - anagram of (a)mbulanc(e)

[Toorak]

29 word for the blunder inside to r(un)

[bobbinwales]

little rascal/little terror- TO R with ERR in

[Neveracrossword]

Gosh, this is a struggle!
5 Escape.
Good luck with the unclued entries....

[Matakari]

Thanks, all! The Unclueds are falling into place with five more to go.
Meanwhile ,a confirmation for these last two clues, thank you:

17 (A) One worn by Virginia? Excellent (5) : BRAVA
37 (D) Turning up, secures a bargain (4) : SNAP

[bobbinwales]

brava- yes
could it be snip?

[greyfox]

It is 'snip'. 'Pins' (secures) reversed.

[Matakari]

Thanks, Greyfox, for elucidating 37!

[Matakari]

Thanks, Bobbinwales! On to the rest of the Unclueds now!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, look on the positive side - as the unclueds involve pairs, you have only two and a half to get! As you've already got the theme, with the others already falling into place, it shouldn't be too tricky to finish off.

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW! I'm almost there with just two tricky looking ones!
I just got 26/25, but now my 26(A) has changed:

26(A) Mechanism amplifying lesser volume a bit (5) : CE?VO
I have now CERVO, but can't parse. Is it correct?

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, that's simply a 'hidden in the clue' answer. Do you play Scrabble at the same time as you solve crosswords? You don't have chuck in random letters at times!

[bobbinwales]

yes , hidden in clue

[Matakari]

Yes, I had "servo" first, but that interferred with my Unclued 26 which I thought was "crater", so I'll have to start again!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. As you've got the theme, I'm sure it'll take you only minutes to sort that tiny bit. I don't understand your reference to 25, that's not thematic.

[Matakari]

I was mistaken about 25. I'm left with 8/10 and 26.
Thanks, NACW!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I'm really sorry - you were correct earlier about 25. I no longer have my scribbled notes and I didn't recognise that as one of the themed entries. Your 26/25 is right, as is 10/8.