You really shouldn't need to hold much of anything. The only sticking point is that I don't know how to handle the second jail set, since my NIN does that one. My ogcds are all over the place during that phase > merry-go-round > second heart phase and then I re-align everything going into last jail set so I'm ready if I'm going in.

I always have BotD, IR, PS+Jump, and I usually use 1 gsk and/or Mercy Stroke. If I have DFD in there, I use it as well. The only ogcd I never use on the Alarum is SSD, since I hold that to jump back to the boss after. I usually use Second Wind if I get the death beam or if I get the beam during the heart phase. I'll also pop Bloodbath in the latter scenario, since that phase we're a lot shakier on.

As far as the post I listened to, it's this one right here.