[1] He became the retained jockey for Sir Joseph Hawley and was therefore most often found riding for that owner's trainer, George Manning, who was based at Cannons Heath, near Kingsclere, Berkshire.

Early on in his professional career, he suffered a serious accident while riding the mare Freedom in the Earl Spencer's Plate at Northampton in April 1852.

[1] Although by this time Wells had long been eclipsed as leading jockey by George Fordham, he still found success with many of Beadsman's offspring.

"[7] When it came to the 1868 Derby, Wells was left with the dilemma of choosing his mount from three of Beadsman's sons—the aforementioned Rosicrucian, Green Sleeve and Blue Gown.

Green Sleeve and Rosicrucian had run first and second in the previous year's Middle Park Stakes and had beaten Blue Gown in trials,[1] so Wells might have been expected to favour them.

To avoid riding overweight, Wells had touched the floor with his toes while weighing out, then attempted to drop a small saddle cloth on the way back in, so he could again meet the weight on the way in.

His trainer, Porter had once remarked of his unimpeachable reputation, "there was not sufficient money in the Bank of England to bribe him to ride a crooked race.

The decisive factor seems to have been that Wells knew Blue Gown had not suffered from the fever that had affected the yard during a move to new premises at Park House, as the other two had.

[2][8] He did, however, maintain a unique style off the track, known for wearing tartan suits, red slippers and feathered hats.