Arena Leisure's racing director Ian Renton is optimistic that an end is in sight to the ongoing stalls handlers' dispute.

Virtually all of Britain's senior jockeys have boycotted Wolverhampton's evening meeting tonight in protest at Arena's decision to replace RaceTech stalls handlers with their own less-experienced staff.

Seb Sanders and Nicky Mackay are the two high-profile names to take rides, with the majority of the 66 declared runners being partnered by apprentices.

But Renton says that he expects the boycott is nothing more than a "one-off" after speaking with Jockeys' Association chief executive John Blake.

Renton said: "John Blake and I consulted with each other on Friday evening and hopefully I see this disruption as a one-off.

"I am confident this will be resolved before too long, though neither John or I are privy to discussions between RaceTech and their employees.

"But I anticipate there will be a meeting with all parties in the next week or so, and we will be doing our best to resolve the situation. I am confident there is an end in sight and we are happy things are progressing." Leading riders have outlined their concerns over safety issues in response to a new team of stalls handlers hired by Wolverhampton's owners Arena Leisure.

Senior jockey Jimmy Quinn is one of those missing a trip to Wolverhampton in preference to riding at Leicester and believes a quick resolution would be welcomed in the weighing room.

"This issue should never have been allowed to get this far," he said.

"The racecourses and RaceTech should have got their heads together a lot sooner and we want this sorted as soon as possible.

"I don't think we can rule out further action if it doesn't get sorted out but that's not for me to decide.

"A lot of people are pointing fingers at the jockeys but the trainers and racecourses are equally to blame. What worries us is the safety issue.

"The stalls handlers we currently have are experienced and have been in racing all their lives. You can't just expect them to be replaced with less-experienced staff.

"What they have been offered is not good enough."

Fellow rider Simon Whitworth says there can be no short-cuts and any decision has to be thought through for the long-term good.

He said: "One of the major issues is not what is going to happen at the big meetings like Newmarket or Newbury, where there are plenty of lads who know what they are doing --we want to know how they are going to get the experienced staff at places like Ayr or Chepstow.

"This whole thing needs to be settled. While it has gone on too long, there is no animosity in the weighing room with those who are going to ride at Wolverhampton. We stick together and if some jockeys are retained and have to ride there then that's fine. The rest of us understand that everyone has to make a living."

Along with Paul Cole and Luca Cumani, Sir Mark Prescott is one of the bigger trainers who will have at least one runner at Wolverhampton and Seb Sanders will take the ride on Outlook, the top weight in the opening six-furlong claimer. The Heath House handler said: "This has nothing to do with me. I am a professional racehorse trainer and Seb is the retained jockey. Therefore he is retained to ride."

Blake believes the lack of established riders sends a clear message to Arena, saying: "I'm not surprised at all by the way things have happened. I anticipated the apprentices would be required to ride but I have been called by a number of trainers who haven't declared their horses in support."

Some reports yesterday suggested the senior riders may boycott Wolverhampton's next meeting on September 3 if the disagreement is not resolved - a situation Blake would not rule out.