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Cook too little grub for starter and unfancied competitor (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

underdog

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'competitor' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'cook too little grub for starter and unfancied' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'cook' could be 'do' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'do' is located in the answer.
'and' could be 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and') and 'n' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for underdog that I've seen before include "Probable failure" , "Grounded (anag)" , "Weaker contestant" , "outsider" , "Canine expected to lose?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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