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2d. French cry is CRI and odds is SP (starting price in betting). Everything else is the definition

29a Strumpet - prostitute
street ST
peculiar RUM
blue eyed girl PET

18a. Brittany - part of France
BRIT - person from UK
T - troy (abbrev)
ANY - some

(not sure about "takes" )

Thanks for the replies.

26a. A source of trouble to overcome, taking a pessimistic view
AT WORST

2d. Players with a clear piece of wood
CASTANET

3d. Recognise expert on policy turning up
KNOW

17d. Namely, catching 1000 fish in drink
IMBIBE

Parses for the above please.

26 a t(rouble) worst (as in beat or overcome)
2 cast - players, net - profit or "clear" (more usually nett?)
3 wonk is a slang term for an expert
17 i see i.e. and m, but is bib a fish?

The bib is a member of the cod family, apparently. Wonk/know appeared in the Guardian this week

Thanks for the replies.
I like fish but I'd never heard of a 'bib'
Never heard 'wonk' before either.
Cheers

Happy new year to one and all.

24a. Perfume said to make one ecstatic
SENT

2d. A very small monarch, say
AVER

Parses for the above please

24a Sent -(sounds like scent)
affected with powerful emotion; put into ecstasy.

2d aver - say
A V(ery) ER (abbrev. Elizabeth Regina (monarch)