Last one (only taken me a week!): 27d: Ripper when reforming may do this without displaying sorrow (8). If my other answers are correct, the pattern is: _ E _ R _ E _ S. I can think of a number of...
Last three: will no doubt kick myself! 3d: What (in play) of the Sun, heartlessly roaming after pointy stag? (5,4): ROYAL _U_T (HUNT? If so, how/why?) 21d: Wasted opportunity with almost complete...
Stuck on last four: 17ac: "...a great fit of the colic", as Pepys said? (9): _ _ _ _E_S_ _ 17dn: Pais study with a load of guts (7): _ _O_ _ _A 18dn: Deposed by resorting to productive case...