Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Three left - remnants of cold not helping -

26A Mix-up over top of herd in reserve (8)
A?S?I?H?

39A Bell, perhaps, in Isle of Wight resort has lost note (8)
?N?E?T?R
&
40A Small freshwater fish making for steep bank (5)
S?A?P This may be SWAMP but can't really see why, nor is my "Big Boys Book of Fish" very helpful.

The usual caveat about the accuracy of all, some or any of these letters applies.

Taking muzzy head to bed so all acknowledgments of gratitude will follow tomorrow

inventor
scarp

1st one Pastiche (past/over+ice/reserve+h/Herd).

39 in vent(n)or bell=inventor ventnor is a resort on the isle of white

as for the other one S carp fairly self explanatory

hope your feeling better soon bear of ib

Thanks to chiff, malone & imagcq for their invaluable assistance.

I had entered something erroneous where I should have put METAMORPHISM which did not help with PASTICHE.

However I do not know why I could not see SCARP which, in the plain light of day, looks pretty obvious!

Thanks to all & apologies for stupidity.