Not a toughie, but a goodie: plenty of variety and invention here from Orense, though perhaps one too many hidden solutions. A nice accompaniment to my morning coffee (and what a splendidly sunny morning it is). Thanks, Orense.
ACROSS
1. DISTEMPER Double definition (I think): the ‘lab’ in question is a labrador
6. NEIGH Sounds like nay [no]
9. GRACE G [good] + race [people]
10. LIBERATED Regular letters from bLaIr + berated [told off]
11. OBLITERATE O [zero, love] + b [book] + literate [educated]
12. SODA Initial letters of Sports Or Dubious Activities
14. THEOREM The homphone is in the clue, unusually: ‘some’ sounds like sum
15. SHINDIG Anagram of hidings
17. MARITAL Mar [ruin] + I [one] + tal(e) [story]
19. FUCHSIA Anagram of as if much minus (enthusias)m
20. SOFA So fa(r) [hitherto]
22. FALSE ALARM Anagram of all safe + arm [supply weapons]
25. OWNERSHIP Owners [proprietors] + hip [joint]
26. GRAIN A within grin [smile wryly]
27. ETHOS Hidden in budgET HOSpitals
28. SO TO SPEAK Sot [drunk] + O [zero, nothing] + speak [say]
DOWN
1. DOGGO Dog [boxer – though there should be a ‘say’ or ‘perhaps’ in here, think] + go [shot, try]
2. SMALL BEER Be [live] within smaller [reduced]
3. ELECTORATE Cryptic definition
4. PILGRIM Reversal of lip [edge] + grim [serious]
5. REBATES Anagram of are best
6. NERD Hidden in dinNER Date
7. INTRO R [Rex or Regina, monarch] within into [enthusiastic about]
8. HYDRANGEA Anagram of garden within anagram of hay
13. DICHARGES Dis [disrespect, insult] + charges [people being looked after]
14. TOMBSTONE Anagram of mob sent to to give the rootin’, tootin’ town in which numerous westerns have been set
16. DISPARAGE Anagram of ipads + rage [anger]
18. LEACHES Hidden in singLE ACHE Silently
19. FUSSPOT Fuss [worry] + pot [cannabis, drug]
21. FINCH F [fine] + inch [measure] to give a member of a family of songbirds
23. MINSK S [son] within mink [fur coat]
24. ARTS Art [skill] + (horse)s
Two FT puzzles on consecutive days (see 4d in 14,248 by Dogberry) with HYDRANGEA made from GARDEN and HAY. Is this something the editor should strive to avoid? I’m curious as to others’ views.