Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

in touch, shaken up and headway after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, went third after last,

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
ridden before	The jockey started urging the horse aggressively before the second-last obstacle to try and get it back into contention.
Headway	The horse was moving up through the field.
Ran on	The horse maintained or increased its speed in the final stages.

Summary

The jockey started urging the horse aggressively before the second-last obstacle to try and get it back into contention.
The horse was moving up through the field.
The horse maintained or increased its speed in the final stages.