Philip James
1937 - 1993
1937 - 1993
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Lincolnshire-based National Hunt jockey Philip Paul James was born on April 27, 1937. He served his apprenticeship on the Flat initially with Harry Scott, who trained at Saxilby, near Lincoln, and then with Norman Scobie at Richmond in Yorkshire.
Lincolnshire-based National Hunt jockey Philip Paul James was born on April 27, 1937. He served his apprenticeship on the Flat initially with Harry Scott, who trained at Saxilby, near Lincoln, and then with Norman Scobie at Richmond in Yorkshire.
He was almost 28 before he rode his first winner, on a grey gelding named Timothy P, owned and trained by Philip Cook at Metheringham, Lincolnshire, in the Fakenham Novices’ Hurdle on Easter Monday, April 19, 1965. Timothy P also gave Philip his sole success of 1965/66, while two other grey geldings, Oldbury Lad and Prevale, both owner-trained by Cook, were his only winners in 1966/67.
He was almost 28 before he rode his first winner, on a grey gelding named Timothy P, owned and trained by Philip Cook at Metheringham, Lincolnshire, in the Fakenham Novices’ Hurdle on Easter Monday, April 19, 1965. Timothy P also gave Philip his sole success of 1965/66, while two other grey geldings, Oldbury Lad and Prevale, both owner-trained by Cook, were his only winners in 1966/67.
Oldbury Lad, who Philip rated one of the two best he rode in his career, provided him with a first success of 1967/68 when landing a novice riders’ race at Cheltenham in October. The other ‘joint best’ was Ashley Dent’s Brass Finisher, on whom Paul won handicap hurdles at Catterick and Newcastle. Basil Richmond supplied Philip with an Easter Monday winner in Markus at Market Rasen, while Ashley Dent’s Funny Girl obliged at Wetherby the following day, giving Philip five winners for the season.
Oldbury Lad, who Philip rated one of the two best he rode in his career, provided him with a first success of 1967/68 when landing a novice riders’ race at Cheltenham in October. The other ‘joint best’ was Ashley Dent’s Brass Finisher, on whom Paul won handicap hurdles at Catterick and Newcastle. Basil Richmond supplied Philip with an Easter Monday winner in Markus at Market Rasen, while Ashley Dent’s Funny Girl obliged at Wetherby the following day, giving Philip five winners for the season.
Richmond’s hurdler Dollwyn got Philip off the mark for 1968/69, scoring at Fakenham in September, but the highlight of that season was winning the ITV-televised Butlin Holiday Camp Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by Sir Billy Butlin, on Brass Finisher at Market Rasen on March 1, the biggest victory of Philip’s career. He rode another ‘Saturday winner’ seven days later on Frank Gilman’s Unbreakable at Haydock.
Richmond’s hurdler Dollwyn got Philip off the mark for 1968/69, scoring at Fakenham in September, but the highlight of that season was winning the ITV-televised Butlin Holiday Camp Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by Sir Billy Butlin, on Brass Finisher at Market Rasen on March 1, the biggest victory of Philip’s career. He rode another ‘Saturday winner’ seven days later on Frank Gilman’s Unbreakable at Haydock.
Unbreakable was a rare ‘spare’ winning ride as by now he was the retained jockey for both Philip Cook and Basil Richmond, who between them provided almost all his winners for the remainder of his career. David Ringer’s Downing Arms and Belaye on successive Whit Mondays in 1974 and 1975 were among his rare ‘outside’ winners.
Unbreakable was a rare ‘spare’ winning ride as by now he was the retained jockey for both Philip Cook and Basil Richmond, who between them provided almost all his winners for the remainder of his career. David Ringer’s Downing Arms and Belaye on successive Whit Mondays in 1974 and 1975 were among his rare ‘outside’ winners.
The 1975/76 season saw Philip equal his best score of five, which included only his second success over fences, on Ian Jordan’s novice chaser Spring Leaves at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, although he had to survive an objection from the rider of the runner-up on grounds of taking the wrong course.
The 1975/76 season saw Philip equal his best score of five, which included only his second success over fences, on Ian Jordan’s novice chaser Spring Leaves at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, although he had to survive an objection from the rider of the runner-up on grounds of taking the wrong course.
When he rode his last winner, Philip Cook’s Priddy Friendly in a Newcastle novices’ hurdle on Thursday, October 28, 1976, he was nearly 39 years old, which made him one of the senior members of the weighing room.
When he rode his last winner, Philip Cook’s Priddy Friendly in a Newcastle novices’ hurdle on Thursday, October 28, 1976, he was nearly 39 years old, which made him one of the senior members of the weighing room.
Philip James, who died in 1993, was the epitome of a journeyman jockey, being retained by two small-time, albeit successful, stables and riding several of his winners at minor bank holiday meetings. Yet it is the likes of James, Cook and Richmond that represent the backbone of National Hunt racing and the sport would be all the poorer without them.
Philip James, who died in 1993, was the epitome of a journeyman jockey, being retained by two small-time, albeit successful, stables and riding several of his winners at minor bank holiday meetings. Yet it is the likes of James, Cook and Richmond that represent the backbone of National Hunt racing and the sport would be all the poorer without them.
Philip James rode a total of 39 winners. These were, in chronological order:
Philip James rode a total of 39 winners. These were, in chronological order:
1. Timothy P, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
1. Timothy P, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
2. Timothy P, Stratford, February 5, 1966
2. Timothy P, Stratford, February 5, 1966
3. Oldbury Lad, Towcester, April 29, 1967
3. Oldbury Lad, Towcester, April 29, 1967
4. Prevale, Market Rasen, June 10, 1967
4. Prevale, Market Rasen, June 10, 1967
5. Oldbury Lad, Cheltenham, October 18, 1967
5. Oldbury Lad, Cheltenham, October 18, 1967
6. Brass Finisher, Catterick, October 21, 1967
6. Brass Finisher, Catterick, October 21, 1967
7. Brass Finisher, Newcastle, March 23, 1968
7. Brass Finisher, Newcastle, March 23, 1968
8. Markus, Market Rasen, April 15, 1968
8. Markus, Market Rasen, April 15, 1968
9. Funny Girl, Wetherby, April 16, 1968
9. Funny Girl, Wetherby, April 16, 1968
10. Dollwyn, Fakenham, September 14, 1968
10. Dollwyn, Fakenham, September 14, 1968
11. Ross-Babur, Worcester, October 23, 1968
11. Ross-Babur, Worcester, October 23, 1968
12. Brass Finisher, Market Rasen, March 1, 1969
12. Brass Finisher, Market Rasen, March 1, 1969
13. Breakable, Haydock Park, March 8, 1969
13. Breakable, Haydock Park, March 8, 1969
14. Gold Piece, Doncaster, October 24, 1969
14. Gold Piece, Doncaster, October 24, 1969
15. Danny Scipio, Leicester, November 3, 1969
15. Danny Scipio, Leicester, November 3, 1969
16. Saucy Simon, Market Rasen, August 29, 1970
16. Saucy Simon, Market Rasen, August 29, 1970
17. Saucy Simon, Fakenham, September 12, 1970
17. Saucy Simon, Fakenham, September 12, 1970
18. Semper Paratus, Market Rasen, May 18, 1971
18. Semper Paratus, Market Rasen, May 18, 1971
19. Markus, Wye, October 4, 1971
19. Markus, Wye, October 4, 1971
20. Dollwyn, Teesside Park, November 17, 1971
20. Dollwyn, Teesside Park, November 17, 1971
21. March Of Time, Ludlow, May 23, 1972
21. March Of Time, Ludlow, May 23, 1972
22. March Of Time, Market Rasen, June 3, 1972
22. March Of Time, Market Rasen, June 3, 1972
23. I Like It, Fakenham, October 6, 1972
23. I Like It, Fakenham, October 6, 1972
24. Semper Paratus, Doncaster, February 27, 1973
24. Semper Paratus, Doncaster, February 27, 1973
25. I Like It, Perth, May 24, 1973
25. I Like It, Perth, May 24, 1973
26. King Crocket, Wetherby, May 28, 1973
26. King Crocket, Wetherby, May 28, 1973
27. March Of Time, Teesside Park, February 22, 1974
27. March Of Time, Teesside Park, February 22, 1974
28. Fine Judge, Wye, April 8, 1974
28. Fine Judge, Wye, April 8, 1974
29. Fine Judge, Southwell, April 13, 1974
29. Fine Judge, Southwell, April 13, 1974
30. Downing Arms, Fakenham, May 27, 1974
30. Downing Arms, Fakenham, May 27, 1974
31. Pirate Gold, Southwell, August 26, 1974
31. Pirate Gold, Southwell, August 26, 1974
32. Belaye, Huntingdon, May 26, 1975
32. Belaye, Huntingdon, May 26, 1975
33. Pirate Gold, Hexham, September 8, 1975
33. Pirate Gold, Hexham, September 8, 1975
34. March Of Time, Huntingdon, December 26, 1975
34. March Of Time, Huntingdon, December 26, 1975
35. Spring Leaves, Huntingdon, April 19, 1976
35. Spring Leaves, Huntingdon, April 19, 1976
36. Pirate Gold, Fakenham, May 31, 1976
36. Pirate Gold, Fakenham, May 31, 1976
37. Pirate Gold, Market Rasen, June 5, 1976
37. Pirate Gold, Market Rasen, June 5, 1976
38. Mr Metal, Market Rasen, August 2, 1976
38. Mr Metal, Market Rasen, August 2, 1976
39. Priddy Friendly, Newcastle, October 28, 1976
39. Priddy Friendly, Newcastle, October 28, 1976