Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

pressed leader, ridden and , just inside final ,

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Pressed leader	Applied pressure to the horse in front.
just held	The horse's powerful late run was not quite enough, and it lost the race by the narrowest possible margin (e.g., a nose or short head).
Kept on	The horse maintained its speed well to the finish.
Furlong	Unit of distance; one furlong is 1/8 of a mile (approx. 200 meters).

Summary

Applied pressure to the horse in front.
The horse's powerful late run was not quite enough, and it lost the race by the narrowest possible margin (e.g., a nose or short head).
The horse maintained its speed well to the finish.
Unit of distance; one furlong is 1/8 of a mile (approx. 200 meters).