You shouldn’t have any trouble the first time you glide to the castle, but this area can be much more dangerous later in the race. Since powerful items can knock you out of the sky, move to one of the platforms as quickly as possible.
If your opponents favor the upper entrance, consider entering the castle from below. This can often be your best shot at an early item box.
Bananas work well almost anywhere on the track, but the spiral stairs offer the best place to use a Green Shell. Toss one behind you to create a serious hazard for nearby opponents!
Remember that you need a lot of speed to drift through the first shortcut. If your opponents have slowed you down, hop across the gap or stick to the main path.
Try jostling troublesome racers off the track or into one of the lava streams—just remember to avoid picking fights with heavier racers!