Wells just got the better of Zed Em in a stirring battle at the finish of Sunday's $100,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3600m) at Bendigo.
Zed Em had made much of the running and was joined by Wells at the second last fence, the pair jumping it together before battling to the finish.
Zed Em ($4) landed clear after the last but Richard Cully got everything out of Wells ($6.50) to get his nose in front inside the final strides and score by a short head, the first two pulling five lengths clear of King Of The Forest ($91) in third.
Wells won his first hurdle race at Bendigo almost five years ago to the day on July 22, 2012 and has since won two runnings of the Grand National Steeple and finished third in last year's Mosstrooper behind Sea King, winner of the Brendan Dreschler Hurdle earlier on the Sunday's card.
The nine-year-old son of Galileo had not raced over jumps since winning last year's Grand National Steeplechase and came into Sunday's race having finished unplaced last time out in the Banjo Peterson Series Final at Flemington on July 8.
Trainer Kath Durden said Wells relished a test of stamina.
"He's been going really and was going to run at Sandown but he cut his head so we've just had to bide our time," Durden said.
"He's a supreme horse, so honest and he's a great stayer.
"A couple of years ago he had a problem with a fetlock but otherwise he's as honest as the day is long.
"We look after him and nurse him along so we'll head to the Crisp and then on to the (Grand) National."
Cully said Wells travelled well all the way.
'He's just a very good horse - he travelled good the whole way," Cully said.
"I just had to give him a squeeze at the last but I knew he'd stay for me. He was just too good."
The 2014 Grand National Hurdle winner Sea King ($7) won the previous race, the $100,000 Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3600m), defeating Two Hats ($6) by 1 1/4-lengths with the $2.30 favourite Renew trailing in last of seven.
