DAVID Howell remained inside the top 10 but slipped several shots off the lead after a level par round of 72 on day two of the Volvo China Open.

The Swindon ace, joint leader after firing a four-under-par 68 on day one yesterday, again carded five birdies at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

However, in contrast to his near-flawless opening day, the two-time Ryder Cup star endured a more up and down day on the testing layout second time around.

Starting on the 10th Howell briefly moved to six under with birdies at the 12th and 13th but by the time he reached the 17th tee he was back in arrears after a nasty three-hole stretch.

Back to back bogeys at 14 and 15 were then compounded by a double bogey at the par four 16th before he started to repair the damage with a birdie at the 18th - his ninth.

Another birdie at the start of his back nine restored him to level for the day but the short third hole proved his undoing for a second day in succession as he dropped his fifth shot of the round.

A birdie at the the short par four seventh got him home in 72 as Frenchman Julien Quesne set the pace out front on nine under towards the end of his second round.