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Finding it very, very tough this week.

33d Young one from betting syndicate in Bluegrass State (6,7)

The one crossing letter I've got (K) is enough to suggest it might be Spring chicken but if it is, where does the Bluegrass State come into it?

SP = betting (starting price)
RING = syndicate
CHIC = in
KEN = Kentucky, the blue grass state

Thanks, I thought the abbreviation for Kentucky was KY, not Ken.

Agreed, for the two-letter abbreviation, but I believe that Ken or Kent are also used. (Like MA and MASS for Massachusetts). I’ve struggled with quite a bit of the parsing this week. For example 35a:
“Container not exactly small, I made smaller.”
C*s*e*t*.
Must be cassette, but I don’t see where the “I made smaller” fits??

I made smaller = Sette(r).

cassette = container is dreadful.

StrangelyBrown, I thought the same until I checked Chambers - a cassette is defined as 'a light-tight container for an X-ray film, or one for film that facilitates ...'

I concur with StrangelyBrown, it's a bit of a struggle today.

After some considerable groaning I've managed the middle & bottom but am still baffled by the top.

If someone would oblige with one answer I may be able to go further :

4A Male boss with this foolish ritual (5, 5)
??F?? ???B?

Thanks in advance.

Mumbo Jumbo, foolish ritual.

M - Male
Umbo - Boss
Jumbo - this, the crossword!

That was another one I didn't get because I've never heard of umbo meaning boss, what a horrible obscurity.
Also don't like the definition, it's nonsense, I'm not sure about the ritual.

Mumbo jumbo, this, the crossword.