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Thank you very much Joan
As my original post shows, SHAPE WELL was my first thought. It's just that I can't find any ref anywhere for SHAPE WELL = PROMISE (or even SHAPE WELL = shows PROMISE).
Is there a reference for SHAPE WELL?

It's a bit vague but I thought that if someone says they can 'spare' something it's a sort of promise. I hope someone does better.

Sorry Jolan - I read your first post v hurriedly and somehow missed your mention of 'shape well'!
Chambers gives 'shape'= promise, but that's all i can find.

Many thanks again Joan.
Yes, my Chambers gives; shape = to give promising signs.
If the answer is actually, PROMISE = SHAPE WELL, then the setter would really be 'stretching it' beyond the acceptable.
Hopefully, we'll have a few more replies. I'll post it again in a week or so.

Tony, Ixion, Trevor - where are you?

Chambers gives "shape up" - to be promising....I'm sure(although like you I can't actually find a reference)shape well/shape up well are terms used in horse racing, athletics etc when a horse/runner is making a move through a field and looks like they will win.

Hi there Ixion.
Thanks for the suggestion. I've trawled Racing Terms, Jockey's Terms, etc and cannot find a ref.

I'm pretty confident my letters are correct (famous last words, eh?). I'll leave it for a week or so and then post it again with the source and my letter justification included.
Thanks for your input.

Tony or Trevor might come across this post sometime.
I believe Tony sometimes does this very crossword.
I'm off now. No crossies till Jolan's 5. Have a great weekend. J

I don't see a problem here, Jolan. To me, 'it's shaping well' = 'it's promising'. Can't tell you why, just that it's a natural turn of phrase for me. Could it be a Yorkshire or Warwickshire idiom? I'd go with it, anyway.

I stll don't like it!

Ixion says "Chambers gives "shape up" - to be promising" which would be fine if the word was "promising" but it isn't.

Same goes fo Calliewag's "shaping well = promising" which I'd agree with if the words were as such - but again they're not.

My best guess is that they're both correct but that the compiler has been particularly sloppy.

I suppose you could always get everyone to check your existing letters Jolan...?

I've been following this thread with interest. Just discovered my friend has been doing the same xword and has the answer as shape well (sh a pew e'll) but he comes from Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire.! I agree that it is not a good clue though.

Thanks Calliewag, Wendy and Jazzgirl.
Just taking a quick peek on Sunday before going out.

Chanbers does give 'shape up' = 'to be promising' (see Ixion - earlier) BUT this is more in the way of 'to develop' and certainly does not translate to 'promise' = 'shape well'.

I hope the setter has not, successfully, misled us! lol

I have had great faith in this particular 'magazine' crossword until recently, when a large booboo occurred. That was just a wee slip. Hope this is not another.