| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| never on terms | A clear statement that the horse was never competitive in the race. |
| Pushed along | The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip). |
| Towards rear | Running near the back of the field. |
| plugging on | The horse continued to run, but without any genuine acceleration, just maintaining a slow, tiring pace. |