Champagne Fever and Minsk are set to clash at Naas on Sunday

Champagne Fever and Minsk aim to give the red-hot form of last month's Royal Bond another significant boost in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

Minsk has a little over five lengths to find with Champagne Fever on the Fairyhouse form, but trainer Dessie Hughes is confident it will be more of a race this time. "I hope we might be able to turn the form around," said Hughes. "I think I might have run him back a bit quick in the Royal Bond. "It was only a couple of weeks after his first run of the season in Punchestown and I think he might just have run a bit flat on the day. "He's an Irish Cesarewitch winner and he might just be a better horse over two and a half miles over hurdles. "But, having said that, he wasn't done for foot the last day - he turned into the straight like the winner. "He seems in good form at home - he's perfect - and I'm very happy with him." Hughes also saddles Captain Arceus, who has plenty to do at the ratings. "He's a consistent horse. It's a Grade Two race and we have to let him take his chance," said the County Kildare trainer. Mouse Morris is hoping Rule The World can build on his impressive win at Navan in early December. The County Tipperary trainer said: "It's a good race and the ground is a bit soft for our fellow, but it's going to be soft ground wherever you go. "We had him in at Leopardstown over Christmas but we decided to wait for this. "He's in good shape and hopefully he can run a big race. "We won't think about Cheltenham and things like that until we see how he get on this weekend."