Guardian Prize

[RogerBear]

9. Bold page - auspicious. N ? R ? N ? Can't confirm these letters, though, because of the unusual nature of this puzzle.

24. Which may help the steersman shoot (6) ? I ? L ? R. Possibly TILLER, but can't parse if so.

Did anyone else find this rather unsatisfactory? The trick of having to put in synonyms to eight of the answers rather than the words themselves made for some interesting complexity in the middle of the solve. But then when everything begins to click into place, you are denied the usual pleasure of matching the light to the clue, since the wordplay may refer to a different answer entirely. I am left with a number of answers that I put in because they fit, but without the incentive to parse how the clue generates the necessary synonym.

[Lie-in King]

9a (themed) - Daring (clued answer is) P(age)-lucky
24a Tiller - double meaning, the 2nd as the shoot of a plant

[RogerBear]

Thanks, Lie-in King. TILLER in that sense is a new word for me. I had CONGEALED for 5d, but now see it must be CUDGELLED. So you enjoyed the puzzle?

[Lie-in King]

"Enjoyed" a Guardian puzzle? That's rare for me.

I thought this was ok, I solved all the clues then worked the grid until the lights for the themed answers were revealed.

Glad I could help though :-)

[RogerBear]

Well there you have it. If you can solve all the answers, on this or any puzzle, without prompting from the crossers in the grid, you are way ahead of me!