Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

steadied rear, ridden in modest 5th 2f out, plugged on but never going pace to get involved

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
never going pace to get involved	The definitive statement that the horse's speed/turn of foot was insufficient, or it was positioned too far back, to catch the front-runners and seriously challenge for a winning position.
Plugged on	Kept going without showing much pace.
Rear	Running near the back of the field.

Summary

The definitive statement that the horse's speed/turn of foot was insufficient, or it was positioned too far back, to catch the front-runners and seriously challenge for a winning position.
Kept going without showing much pace.
Running near the back of the field.