Hassett leads home 1-2-3 for Joseph Sent off the 9/4 favourite, the Joseph O'Brien-trained James J Braddock was an emphatic winner of the opening Irish EBF Maiden (Smullen Series) at the Curragh. Runner-up on his debut at Navan, the Kevin Blake-owned Zarak colt raced close to the pace under Wayne Hassett and went on over two furlongs out before going right away to beat first-time-out stablemates Cannes and Atomic City by six lengths and two and three-quarter lengths.  Hassett, now on 25 winners for the campaign, is now two clear of Robert Whearty in the race to be champion apprentice which will conclude today. “He dominated and did it very well," said Hassett.   “He was second first time out in Navan and Joseph really liked him. He said ‘don’t complicate things and have him prominent”.  “He’s still plenty green and was wandering around a little bit in front. The ground is very testing.”  Additional reporting by Alan Magee
