Possible Clues:

• Goner
• Doomed thing
• Late love doomed to failure
• For those who are late, this is nothing to do with one of those who is doomed
• After brown bread, nothing is a lost cause
• It's useless or failed, like moribund mallard
• A hopeless cause - being late, out for nought
• Get nothing out of play, initially - one certain to fold
• Hopeless plan to take a late dip
• Something useless or unsuccessful, like expired mallard