The closing years of Flatman's career were not so successful. By the early 1850s, John 'Tiny' Wells, George Fordham, John Charlton, Henry Custance and brothers James and Luke Snowden were coming to the fore, all able to ride at 7 stone 7 lbs (47.6 kg). During his prime, Flatman had ridden at 7 stone 8 lbs (48.1 kg) but he could no longer compete at this weight. John Wells was the first to overhaul Flatman in the jockeys championship in 1853. By 1854, both Wells and Charlton had headed him, and from then on Flatman gradually fell out of favour until in his final year of riding in 1859, he won only fifteen races.