Metropolitan hopeful Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap contender Althoff will have their carnival ambitions assessed at Newcastle, with top jockey Zac Lloyd set to ride the pair in important lead-up races.

Aethelwulf faces a dual challenge in extending beyond 2000m for the first time and competing in stakes company when he contests Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), seeking his fourth consecutive win. Althoff, meanwhile, will aim to solidify his Epsom Handicap credentials in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m).

Lloyd, who has a perfect record on both horses trained by Matt Smith, emphasised the necessity for Aethelwulf to maintain his winning form to justify his market favouritism for the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick next month.

“He needs to win if he wants to progress to a Metrop,” Lloyd said.

“He’s not well weighted. The top horse has compressed the weights so some nice horses are giving him less kilos than what they should be, so that’s going to be tricky for him.

“But it will be good to see where he’s at. I have a lot of belief in him and so does Matt. Hopefully he can win and win comfortably.

“He’s one of the more exciting horses I’ve sat on just in how he’s progressed every run.”

Among Aethelwulf’s rivals will be topweight and Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard, who is aiming to provide local trainer Kris Lees with his second Newcastle Cup, following Mugatoo’s success six years prior.

Althoff also arrives at his assignment in excellent form, having achieved impressive victories in his last two starts.

Lloyd considered the gelding’s most recent win at Rosehill to be particularly convincing and, echoing the sentiment for Aethelwulf, stated that Althoff’s performance on Friday would be critical in determining his next target.

“Barrier one is fantastic for him. He can ‘posi’ up closer than he did the other day,” Lloyd commented.

“His last win was full of merit because he had to go back on a track that was favouring leaders, and if he wins at Newcastle, he’ll probably take his place in the Epsom with a light weight.

“So two important races on Friday.”

The Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares rounds out the day’s features, with Lloyd partnering the resuming Polymnia for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

While her peak performances have been recorded over middle distances, she is capable of sprinting well fresh and has finished in the placings in three of her five first-up runs.

Consider the online bookmakers for betting markets on the Newcastle races.