Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon pressed, headed towards finish,

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
ridden to lead over	The jockey started urging the horse, and the horse responded with a surge to take the lead
Tracked leader	Followed closely behind the leaders.
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).

Summary

The jockey started urging the horse, and the horse responded with a surge to take the lead
Followed closely behind the leaders.
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).