The form of Ferris Bueller s Sligo run is working out very well and despite going off an unfancied 33/1 shot, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned four-year-old son of Lear Spear proved up to the task by a head in the Madigans Bars at Punchestown Maiden Hurdle under Niki O'Shea.

In the same colours as the winner and also a point-to-point winner earlier in the year, Zagman looked a likely winner under the owner's retained rider Davy Russell when striking on in the straight. However he wilted on the run-in and Conor O'Dwyer's Ferris Bueller came home best to narrowly edge out Lean Times

O'Dwyer said of Ferris Bueller, bought from Vinnie Keane: "I would have been delighted if he'd been in the first three or four. He stays well though and he is only a four-year-old so he is something to look forward to.

"He'll make a real nice staying horse and he seems to take everything in his stride."

For Niki O'Shea this was a first winner since the end of January. He was on the sidelines for a lengthy period after breaking his shoulder twice in quick succession.