Hold release PR merge until BRAT validation

.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml

@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ jobs:
                   RELEASE_BRANCH: ${{ steps.prepare.outputs.branch }}
               run: |
                   cat > /tmp/release-pr-body.md <<EOF
+                  > [!IMPORTANT]
+                  > **Merge intentionally on hold**
+                  >
+                  > Publishing the GitHub Release does not unblock this pull request. Keep this pull request in draft, and leave \`main\` on the previous release, until the published build has passed BRAT validation.
+
                   ## Release checklist
 
                   - [ ] Review and polish \`updates.md\`
@@ -98,7 +103,10 @@ jobs:
                   - [ ] Confirm \`manifest.json\`, \`versions.json\`, workspace package versions, and generated \`_types\`
                   - [ ] Confirm CI has passed
                   - [ ] Run the finalise release workflow with this PR's fixed head SHA
-                  - [ ] Merge this PR with a merge commit after the draft or pre-release has been created
+                  - [ ] Confirm the draft GitHub Release assets and the published CLI image
+                  - [ ] Publish the GitHub Release as the latest stable release while keeping this pull request in draft
+                  - [ ] Validate the published release with BRAT
+                  - [ ] Mark this pull request ready and merge it with a merge commit
                   EOF
 
                   gh pr create \