Coffs Harbour trainer Basil Ryan couldn't be happier with Castlemagne King as the gelding lines up for his 98th race start and second win in Sunday's Murwillumbah Cup.

The hardy eight-year-old gelding won the north coast feature in 2012 and finished fifth to Zar Zar Binks on a heavy track in 2013.

A winner of 13 races, Castlemagne King retains his zest for racing and comes into the Cup in good form.

Two starts back, the gelding showed his liking for Murwillumbah when successful in the 1800-metre Cup Prelude on June 1.

Castlemagne King was a last-start 10th to the Inventor in the Provincial Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 14.

"He's come through the Ipswich run in good order," Ryan said.

"You can put a line through that run. The horse is as good, probably going better than when he won the Prelude at Murwillumbah.

"He's as bright as a button, bouncing when he's coming off the track. He feels good and is eating up.

"I don't do a lot with him in between runs once he's fit. He's an old horse and knows how to gallop but what he's done has been good."

Castlemagne King was originally purchased by Ryan as a foal at foot with his dam Plaza Athenee, as a birthday present for his wife Tracey who races the gelding with her husband.

The cost was a meagre $5000 and Castlemagne King has returned $192,770 prize money.

Castlemagne King will be ridden by Jason Taylor.

The Murwillumbah Cup has been on the agenda the entire preparation but Ryan is also eyeing the $150,000 Grafton Cup on July 10.