Inferior contestant (8)
I believe the answer is:
underdog
(Other definitions for underdog that I've seen before include "Likely loser" , "One expected to lose" , "Least favoured competitor" , "unlikely winner" , "One thought unlikely to win" .)
I believe the answer is:
underdog
(Other definitions for underdog that I've seen before include "Likely loser" , "One expected to lose" , "Least favoured competitor" , "unlikely winner" , "One thought unlikely to win" .)