The son of engineer Bellhouse of the city fire brigade, George Francis Bellhouse was born at the fire station in the Upper Priory, Birmingham, in July 1885. He began his riding career as an apprentice to William Flatman at Chantilly,staying there until Christmas, 1905, when he decided to try his luck in England. It was a good move. Within weeks, he had ridden his first big-race winner, the 5-year-old Ob, which won in the 1906 Lincoln Handicap. 

Ob was owned by Maurice Ephrussi (a prominent French financier and racing patron), trained by Richard Carter (senior, an English trainer based in France with strong continental ties). Ob started at odds of 20/1 in a field of 24 runners, making it a significant upset victory. Bellhouse guided the horse to victory, showcasing his skill in navigating a competitive handicap. This win came right after Bellhouse had finished second in the French jockeys' championship the previous season (with 94 winners), highlighting his transition back to England and his ability on British tracks.

Interestingly, Ob repeated the feat the following year in 1907, becoming one of only a handful of horses to win the Lincoln Handicap back-to-back (the other notable double being Babur in 1957–1958). However, in 1907, Bellhouse did not retain the ride—George Stern took over, and Ob won again at 25/1.