But despite making a birdie on the second hole the Irishman found his lead under attack as the players took advantage of calmer conditions on the Algarve.

Swindon’s David Howell was making the biggest move, holing from 12 feet for an eagle on the par-five second and from a similar distance on the fourth to move to 10 under par.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth was another shot back after recovering from dropping a shot on the first by picking up birdies at the next two holes while former Ryder Cup player David Gilford had also improved by a stroke to join Forsyth on nine under.

There was also an increasingly large contingent on eight under including Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson, showing an encouraging return to form after a poor start to his rookie season on tour.

Dyson won three times on his way to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year but so far this season has missed the cut five times in his 10 starts.

Birdies at the second and third however had him within three of Harrington’s lead alongside Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez, Swede Niclas Fasth and another former Ryder Cup player, Ignacio Garrido.