Cryptic crossword clue
Crook on horse making a mess 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word COCKUP

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
O
C
K
U
P

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "mess" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case mess = cockup.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does COCKUP mean?

COCKUP noun
  1. (mildly) A mistake.
  2. A superior letter. A lower-case letter placed above the baseline and made smaller than ordinary script; traditionally used in abbreviations.
  3. A roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun.
COCKUP noun
  1. A hat or cap worn turned up in front.
  2. A large edible fish of India (Lates calcarifer); the begti.

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