James Connor

Born in 1872, National Hunt jockey James Connor rode 25 winners over jumps in the early years of the 20th century.

His career in the saddle got off to a shaky start when his mount, Glentworth, was a faller in the Selling Steeplechase at Sandown Park on February 9, 1901. It would be more than five years before he achieved his first success, that coming aboard Ma Bouchall in a thrilling three-way finish to the Ugbrooke Hurdle at Newton Abbot on August 7, 1906. James and Ma Bouchall won by a head with their two challengers dead-heating for second place.

He rode five winners that year including a double at Aldershot on November 27 aboard Amethyst in the Pavilion Handicap Chase and Palladia in the Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle.

James then recorded a career-best tally of eleven wins in 1907. They included three chases on Aspasia during the month of April, scoring at Moreton-on-Marsh, Folkestone and Portsmouth Park; along with two selling chases on Clandon Lad within three days in November at Portsmouth Park and Aldershot.

That was the only year in which he attained a double-figure score. His number of winners fell to three in both 1908 and 1909, two in 1910, and just one solitary success the following year, that coming on 3-1 favourite Polites in the Lammas Selling Hurdle at Warwick on February 16, 1911.

His career in the saddle lasted barely two months after that Warwick win, his final mount, Blitzen, finishing fourth of five in the Yeovil Selling Chase at Crewkerne on April 20, 1911.