Possible Clues:

• Attempt unlikely to be successful
• The odds are stacked against it succeeding
• Outsider in marathon attempt
• Remote chance for sniper?
• Major underdog
• Outsider is dying, feverish
• One has little chance of succeeding
• Pines for something stolen locally and has no chance of success
• Risky option offered by barman perhaps
• One has only the slightest chance of succeeding