Sharpe rides first track winner in incident-packed finale Michael Sharpe was unseated from Sonny Carey's Asphalt Cowboy but, crucially, that happened after the winning post in the maiden hunters chase at Downpatrick. The saddle slipped on Asphalt Cowboy (4/1) over two out, but remarkably Sharpe was able to conjure up a strong finish from the seven-year-old gelding who surged home to catch stablemate Cause For Comment (6/4f). Last round was another five lengths away in third at 15/2. After he got up by half a length, Sharpe who was clinging on, was unseated from the winner but walked back unscathed. After the stable one-two Carey said: "Paddy (Mullins) got a great spin (on Cause For Comment) and I thought he was going to win turning in. Loose horse didn't help him the whole way, but that was only his third run over fences and he is going to be a lovely horse next year when he's with a proper trainer! "I thought that horse (Asphalt Cowboy) might run well, he'd love it around here. He's an oul rogue but he has been a brilliant horse for us. We bought him last year and that is his third win for us. "We bought him for Michael to ride. He works for me and has been with me since he was 12. He's a brilliant little rider. He came to the yard one day and never left! When he goes somewhere proper next year, he will fly. "The saddle went on him jumping the second-last and he stayed with him. He'd be used to hanging onto things in my place! He was brilliant on him and gets on great with that horse."
