I am so glad to have re-beaten this. :)) Strange, but I had a clear recollection of having had played it be4, but NO recollection of the solution (not even after I've re-found it).
GREAT level and it had mercy on me, for I'm not even sure, what I did different to get the 144 (was 2 or 4 off, before that, in many ways).
Got it on first try. All those years have taught me that what matters is to move as much as possible on same line, without deviation. In most cases, that's shorter, even if it doesn't appear to be shortest route globally in the board.
Insights