Listed purchases
Cheapest, in guineas
Dearest, in guineas
Years with the firm
Background
Founded the agency in 2004 after eleven years with a Newmarket trainer and two seasons on a stud farm in Kentucky.
James spent eleven years in a Newmarket yard before he ever signed a ticket, which is an unfashionable route into this job and, he would argue, the only one worth taking. He rode out, he did his two, and he watched several hundred expensive horses fail to train on. That experience informs almost everything he does at a sale.
He founded the agency in 2004 with two clients and a borrowed office above a saddlery on the High Street. Twenty-one years later he has bought nine of the fourteen Group 1 winners on the firm's record, and still inspects every horse on a shortlist himself rather than delegating it.
He is a straightforward man to deal with and occasionally a blunt one. Clients who want to be told a horse is lovely should probably ring somebody else; clients who want to be told when to stop bidding tend to stay for a long time.
Experience
Where James has been
Eleven seasons with a Classic-winning Newmarket yard, latterly as travelling head lad.
Two seasons on a Lexington stud farm, working foaling, sales prep and yearling consignment.
Began with two clients and a single yearling purchase at Book 3.
Bury Road, a 44,000gns breeze-up purchase, won the Middle Park and was champion two-year-old.
525,000gns at Book 1; won the St James's Palace Stakes and now stands at stud in France.
Elected to the Council.
Specialisms
What James actually does
- Book 1 and Book 2 yearlings, particularly colts to race and resell
- Breeze-up horses — the sector where he has found the most value
- Physical assessment; he does not buy a pedigree he cannot see in the horse
- Trainer placement, where he has strong and occasionally unwelcome opinions
He talked me out of a horse I badly wanted at Book 1 and I was annoyed for a fortnight. It broke down in April. That is what you are paying for.
Record
Horses James has bought
| Horse | Bought | Sale | Price | What happened next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lidgate | 2025 | Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up | 72,000gns | Won twice at two; Gr.3 placed |
| Ravensmoor | 2023 | Tattersalls October Book 1 | 310,000gns | Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes; Timeform 126 |
| Cold Harbour Lad | 2021 | Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up | 58,000gns | Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup; earned £1.2m |
| Severals | 2020 | Tattersalls February | 24,000gns | Won a Listed race four starts later |
| Marram | 2019 | Tattersalls December Mares | 425,000gns | Dam of two Group winners; her 2024 colt made 600,000gns |
| Dalham Prince | 2019 | Arqana August | €95,000 | Gr.2 winner; sold on to Hong Kong for HK$12m |
| Fen Emperor | 2018 | Tattersalls October Book 1 | 525,000gns | Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes; now at stud in France |
| Bury Road | 2017 | Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up | 44,000gns | Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes; champion two-year-old |
| Icknield Way | 2016 | Tattersalls October Book 1 | 410,000gns | Gr.1 Sussex Stakes; now a stallion in Britain |
Every horse James has bought that has raced, been resold or entered a broodmare band. Prices are hammer prices exclusive of commission.
Where to find him
Sales James attends
If you are going to one of these, say so and he will walk the barns with you for an hour. No charge and no expectation.
- Tattersalls October Book 1
- Tattersalls October Books 2 & 3
- Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up
- Arqana August
- Tattersalls December Mares Sale
The rest of us
Other people here
Get in touch
Speak to James directly
His number is above and he answers it. If you would rather write, the form takes two minutes and reaches him the same day.
Email James →