Camargue,
The AOB for a Bulldog turnback was definitely 45 degrees. It required a very positive nose down attitude change to keep it safe, along with an increased glide speed.
As Bulldog QFIs we were required to practice turnbacks at least once a month. However, I would always prefer to land ahead, if for no other reason than to keep the groundspeed as low as possible, even though we operated off an almost circular grass airfield with a big choice of touchdown point and direction.
I wouldn't want to try a turnback in a draggy Tiger Moth.