Cool - I like the shortcut. The fact that I was about 10 moves short without the shortcut, kinda gave away the fact that a shortcut was hiding somewhere .... which spoiled it slightly ....
94 tries.
Even after I'd stumbled on the right path round try 70, it still took me another ~20 tries to optimize it.
Feels more like a Hard 5 to me, but whatever it is it is brilliant to the core, and beyond.