| 100% | BIT | 3 | Piece of metal held in the mouth of a horse by reins in order to control the animal while riding |
| 32% | GAG | 3 | Piece of cloth put in the mouth to prevent speech |
| 30% | SHIELDS | 7 | Pieces of metal held by a handle used by warriors as a protection |
| 29% | IXION | 5 | Character in Greek mythology bound to a perpetually turning fiery wheel by Hermes on the orders of Zeus |
| 29% | KEEPER | 6 | Small piece that holds the end of a belt in place |
| 28% | RECHARGE | 8 | To boost the battery of a device by plugging it in |
| 28% | LIGATURE | 8 | Metal band holding a reed on to the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments |
| 27% | LIGATURE | 8 | Metal band that holds a reed on to the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments |
| 27% | CHAW | 4 | Something placed in the mouth of a pitcher? |
| 27% | TONGUE | 6 | Muscular organ in the mouth of a mammal |
| 27% | DRESSAGE | 8 | Method of training a horse to perform manoeuvres in response to the body signals of its rider |
| 27% | OPERATIC | 8 | In the style of a work by Bizet, such as Carmen |
| 27% | MIDDLEMARCH | 11 | Sixth novel by George Eliot (birthday yesterday) which was written in two pieces that holds a lot of historical value and is considered to be her best work |
| 27% | CAPO | 4 | Rank in the mafia that heads a crew of soldiers, once held by 18-Across |
| 26% | SPAVIN | 6 | Enlargement of the hock of a horse often resulting in lameness |
| 26% | MIAMI | 5 | "Move to ___," hit song by Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias which has the name of a Florida city in its title |
| 26% | IBAR | 4 | A letter-shaped piece of metal used in construction: Hyph. |
| 26% | ICEBERG | 7 | A very large piece of ice floating in the ocean |
| 26% | REINS | 5 | Jockey's controls (to guide a horse while riding) |
| 26% | SATIE | 5 | "Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear" composer |
| 26% | PELOPS | 6 | Son of Tantalus in Greek mythology killed by his father and served to the gods as a meal |
| 26% | AMIDST | 6 | In the thick of, to a bard |
| 26% | LAYSOVER | 8 | Stops for a while in the course of a journey |
| 26% | SUBJUGATE | 9 | Rule or control people in the style of a dictator |
| 26% | POROSITY | 8 | Relates to the penetrability of a rock by a liquid |
| 26% | TEALEAVES | 9 | Read these in the bottom of a cup, to predict |
| 25% | LID | 3 | Piece of metal used to cover a utensil |
| 25% | FARRIER | 7 | A specialist in the care of horses' hooves |
| 25% | BEARUP | 6 | Laugh in the face of being strangled by a gorilla, maybe |
| 25% | CHRYSALIS | 9 | The stage of a caterpillar while in the cocoon |